Rodrigo works as a mechanical product developer and project manager – pictured together with Mats, Business Manager in Stockholm! Rodrigo shares his knowledge about plastic design, injection molding, and the importance of choosing the right plastic material.
Hello Rodrigo, tell us, who are you, and what is your role at Avalon?
Hello, I am 54 years old, living with my wife in Kungsängen, about 30 kilometers northwest of Stockholm. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family! I’ve become both a grandfather and a step-grandfather, so I’m quite busy on weekends crawling on the floor and playing with both cars and dolls.
I work as a mechanical product developer and project manager. Currently, I am involved in a project with Staccato, where they develop valves for heavy vehicle applications. I’m contributing to ensuring that the details designed by the customer can be injection molded in plastic.
Injection molding! Can you tell us how injection molding works?
Certainly! One can describe it as granules of thermoplastic being heated, and the mass formed is then injected into a mold. The mold is cooled, and after the plastic has solidified, the mold halves are separated, and the plastic part is removed using ejectors. My task is to design plastic parts so that they can be injection molded in the best possible way. I’ve worked as a tool designer for injection molding of plastic parts for many years, and there are many aspects to consider in the design of plastic parts.
Exciting, tell us, what is important to consider when designing a plastic part?
Oh, let’s see. It’s not always obvious, and there are several factors to consider. To design a plastic part, one must take into account various factors to ensure both functionality and manufacturability. It involves the extent to which a part can be manufactured in a simple and cost-effective way, usage area, working temperature, and function are factors that, among others, constitute design requirements. When creating the part, I usually focus on the tool solution, i.e., how the tool works, while considering the design of all parts of the detail. A plastic part should include draft angles, if possible, uniform wall thickness, radii, and define clear parting lines. So, there are a multitude of rules and recommendations to consider, depending on the material, etc.
The choice of the right plastic material is crucial, then?
The choice of the right material is crucial; there are over 700 different plastics with varying properties. It is essential to carefully choose the material because the tool is manufactured with consideration for the chosen material’s shrinkage. I help Staccato navigate through these design principles to optimize the result.
There is a lot of talk about replacing plastic due to its environmental harm. What is your opinion on that?
Oh, what a difficult question! Personally, I think plastic is good IF used for the right purpose and, most importantly, if we humans take responsibility and do not litter plastic in nature. Plastic can be recycled, and plastic products can be reused. I believe it is important to use plastic in products that facilitate our daily lives and where plastic, compared to other materials, provides environmental benefits.
Do you want to know more about how we work with mechanics? Feel free to contact us!