Point and shoot cameras Injection moulding

unwantedfocus · Jul 23, 2021

I have been researching for a while point and shoot cameras (plastic ones). Did manufacturers back in the day already use Injection moulding? Injection moulding seems to be very expensive even to prototype, some of the moulds can cost from upwards $2.000 - $80.000 for really complex ones (they can cost even more depending on the size and complexity). Cheap moulds can only produce about 2000 - 5000 - 10000 parts. Maybe we have some CNC experts on photrio who could elaborate more on this.

The cost to make these cameras back in the day must have be really high considering the volume that had to be produced to get a reasonable profit margin?

Did they use different method to mould the plastic or am I on the right track?

I found also this video on YouTube which made me chuckle.

Lachlan Young · Jul 23, 2021

Injection moulding was used at vast scale for camera parts for much longer than you might think. And on plenty of SLRs etc too - techniques were evolved to plate the plastic to make it seem to be metal. If you have the master set of spark erosion tools etc, you can make moulds pretty readily. Thin shell die-casting seems to have been what replaced pressed metal covers etc on higher end cameras (if you have seen the size of hydraulic press needed to form sheet brass readily - and the press tools needed, it makes sense why the manufacturers wanted to move to other fabrication methods as cameras moved to become much more electronic devices).

Nicholas Lindan · Jul 23, 2021

Plastic cameras have always been injection molded and still are. The alternative is compression molding, usually used for much larger items.

I remember signing off on a set of compression molding dies for a large fiberglass reinforced resin instrument enclosure - came to $320,000 back in 1985.

choiliefan · Jul 24, 2021

Many large manufacturers had in-house tool & die makers and associated equipment.

Dennis-B · Jul 24, 2021

I worked for Ford Motor Company, starting in 1969, and we used injection molded parts then. Of course, tolerances weren't quite as tight as today.

AgX · Jul 24, 2021

Nicholas Lindan said:
Plastic cameras have always been injection molded and still are. The alternative is compression molding, usually used for much larger items.

Well, it depends on what you call plastic. The ones made frome Bakelite were molded by placing a still uncured tablet between two forms and then heat-pressing it into form.

But in general plastic injection molding in Europe started in the 50's.

E. von Hoegh · Jul 31, 2021

unwantedfocus said:
I have been researching for a while point and shoot cameras (plastic ones). Did manufacturers back in the day already use Injection moulding? Injection moulding seems to be very expensive even to prototype, some of the moulds can cost from upwards $2.000 - $80.000 for really complex ones (they can cost even more depending on the size and complexity). Cheap moulds can only produce about 2000 - 5000 - 10000 parts. Maybe we have some CNC experts on photrio who could elaborate more on this.

The cost to make these cameras back in the day must have be really high considering the volume that had to be produced to get a reasonable profit margin?

Did they use different method to mould the plastic or am I on the right track?

I found also this video on YouTube which made me chuckle.

By the early 1970s, plastic (styrene) model kits had magnificent injection molded parts, with impressive detail.

AgX · Jul 31, 2021

AgX said:
But in general plastic injection molding in Europe started in the 50's.

Well, the first injection molding machine for plastics is from 1868...

In 1948 the screw-extruder was invented as part of an injection-molding press, substituting the piston.

bunktheory65 · Aug 1, 2021

Dennis-B said:
I worked for Ford Motor Company, starting in 1969, and we used injection molded parts then. Of course, tolerances weren't quite as tight as today.

tolerances were most likely HIGHER back in THOSE days then they are NOW.

I work in an Original Equipment Manufacturer for various Auto companies. Ford, GM, Honda, Chrysler. The standards we have are very crappy on paint. Molded parts is alot better but not as it should be.

As to the cost of a mold. Depending on number of cavities and size of part, the price can go up to 130,000 these days. It can cost 10-12,000 to send the mold out to a machine shop to have a repair made.

As to the LIFE of a mold for plastic. The sky is the limit. We have molds for GM that have made 15 to 20 million inner door handle cores and are still good for that many more.

RalphLambrecht · Aug 1, 2021

unwantedfocus said:
I have been researching for a while point and shoot cameras (plastic ones). Did manufacturers back in the day already use Injection moulding? Injection moulding seems to be very expensive even to prototype, some of the moulds can cost from upwards $2.000 - $80.000 for really complex ones (they can cost even more depending on the size and complexity). Cheap moulds can only produce about 2000 - 5000 - 10000 parts. Maybe we have some CNC experts on photrio who could elaborate more on this.

The cost to make these cameras back in the day must have be really high considering the volume that had to be produced to get a reasonable profit margin?

Did they use different method to mould the plastic or am I on the right track?

I found also this video on YouTube which made me chuckle.

high-quality injection molding tools can make upwards of 100k parts depending on the material molded. Injection molding is a good choice for high- volume parts with a complex geometry.

bunktheory65 · Aug 1, 2021

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RalphLambrecht said:
high-quality injection molding tools can make upwards of 100k parts depending on the material molded. Injection molding is a good choice for high- volume parts with a complex geometry.

Thats if the design is altered to be suitable for the requirements of proper filling and cooling and extraction. Get one angle wrong and its crap.

We have been making parts for a decade for honda pilot outside door mirrors that because honda messed the original mold up, they didnt get a radius right, there is a flat spot on a rounded surface. Not in the design but approved by the folks at Honda simply due to costs for a new mold.

Point and shoot cameras Injection moulding

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