Table 3.
Summary of the main characteristics of ultrasonic molding technologies and its comparison with micro-injection molding.
| Description | Ultrasonic Compression Molding | Ultrasonic Injection Molding | Micro Injection Molding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial equipment | Not available | Sonorus 1G | Microsystem 10 & 50, Babyplast, etc. |
| Equipment size/cost | Small/low | Small/low | Medium/high |
| Production batch | Small and medium | Small and medium | Medium and high |
| Popularity | Very low | Low | Very High |
| Energy efficiency | High | High | Medium |
| Residence time | Short | Short | Medium to long |
| Repeatability and robustness | Medium | Medium | Very high |
| Tooling complexity | Simple | Medium | High |
| Part complexity | Simple (2.5D) | High (3D parts) | High (3D parts) |
| Flash | High | Very low | Very low |
| Material wastage | Low | Low | Medium |
| Difficulty of operation | Simple | Simple | Delicate (high-skilled operators) |
| Material degradation | Low | Low | Medium |
| Mechanical strength/ percent of elongation | High/very low | High/low | High/high |
| Precision of micro-features | Medium | High | High |