HO Scale Injection Molding Equipment

I haven't done much building since my transcontinental move east, but I was reading through some back issues of Mainline Modeler and Model Railroading and saw a little article by Dean Freytag on modelling heavy industrial equipment that inspired me to organize my workbench and get something small built.
So, here are two small models of large injection molding machines, freelanced but based on photos and function. One's modelled after a fairly new machine, the other a bit older. I still have to do some detail painting and add a few manufacturers decal to the newer (enclosed) unit.
 

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I also built a few wooden crates, experimenting with different materials. I have some veneer samples that look like (and, technically, are) scale plywood.
 

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Nomad

Active Member
Outstanding modeling! Those are so nicely done I didn't think they were scratch built.

Loren
 
Very NICE . When I read the intro , I was hoping you had found a way to build a REAL injection machine -- I was all set to build my own & MAKE ALL my parts from now on!!sign1
 
Thanks everyone. I know the figure is funky - I wanted to add a scale reference, and that's the only one I found handy, mixed with some scrap styrene (like I said, I just started getting my work area set back up:rolleyes:).

Anyway, I thought I'd hold out on the big 'secret' to building these things so everyone would wonder how they were built....they're about 90% Legos :thumb:. I've saved a huge box of them since I was a kid and gave them to my son, and he was willing to let me requesition some for model building purposes.

Here's a few in-progress shots without paint - these are for a thermoplastic extruder and plastic pipe production line. You can see that some of the Legos have been modified to make them less obvious, and a layer of thin styrene panels has been added - seeing 'scale' edges goes a long way in the realism.

I still need to add support feet and a framework to the cooling section (long white rectangular piece on blocks), latches and handles, and a bunch of black insulated wire for hydraulic lines (after everything else is painted). I'll be adding hydraulic and cooling lines to the first two models I posted as well.
 

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Very NICE . When I read the intro , I was hoping you had found a way to build a REAL injection machine -- I was all set to build my own & MAKE ALL my parts from now on!!sign1
Dave, there's actually a fair amount of information on the web as to how to build your own real machine on the cheap, and several manufacturers of small machines that run on compressed air (I've used a machine built by Morgan Press) - the prices aren't bad; the most difficult part is the tooling (molds).
 

nkp174

Active Member
Very clever! They didn't seem to be as simple as your post implied...but now it is very clear that they are. I recognize the lego parts now. Excellent modeling!
 

eightyeightfan1

Now I'm AMP'd
THOSE ARE EXCELLENT!
Working in the plastic industry before(2000-2005). I suggest two conveyors that comes out from the bottom of the machine. One for the "sprues" that'll lead to a grinder for recycling, and one for the finished product. These are usually supplied with new machines.
 
Thanks for the tip. I had planned to add the conveyor for finished parts, but a 2nd convery for the sprues hadn't crossed my mind.
I've got most of the pre-paint detailing for the pipe extursion line done, I'll post some more progress pics later today.
 
Here are a few more progress shots. In addition to some more panelling, I've added some technical looking details from my scrap box, and built an outfeed table from a casting for a porch railing and some 4x4 square styrene. I can't wait to get some paint on these puppies this weekend:thumb:
 

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And here's the finished pipe extrusion line - now all I need is some scale lengths of 8" pipe. It's amazing what a coat of paint and a few decals do:thumb:
 

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