27 Mar 2016
An up close image of a plastic water bottle cap. You an see the ribs in the plastic design.

Plastic Rib Design Ribs are a great way to add strength and stiffness to a plastic part without significantly increasing material usage or overall part weight. When designed correctly, ribs help prevent flexing, warping, and deformation in large flat surfaces, allowing designers to maintain thinner nominal wall sections. This approach not only improves part performance […]

28 Dec 2025
A blue ruler with a warped defect, making it curved at one end instead of completely straight.

Understanding Injection Molding Defects Injection molding defects are flaws that compromise a part’s appearance, performance, or dimensional accuracy. While some defects are cosmetic, others can impact structural integrity, function, or downstream assembly, making early detection and prevention critical in production environments. Understanding why defects occur allows manufacturers to make informed decisions around material selection, mold […]

28 Oct 2025
Plastic bottles and caps lined up nicely after being manufactured.

What is sustainable injection molding? Sustainable injection molding refers to the practice of designing, selecting materials, and executing production in a way that minimizes environmental impact while maintaining quality and performance. Rather than simply making plastic parts, it means choosing smarter resins, optimizing energy usage, reducing waste, and extending product lifecycles so the part you […]

Plastic injection molding parts on a table.

When you need plastic parts for your product, you want a plastics manufacturer that is reliable, affordable, and produces high-quality parts. There may be a lot of options, so it is important to narrow down the field with the right criteria. What is a plastics manufacturer, and what do they do? A plastics manufacturer is […]

09 Jun 2025
A hand selects 4 stars out of 5.

What is product testing?  Product testing is the process of evaluating a product’s performance, appeal, and market fit before mass production. It includes creating a prototype, gathering user feedback, and making improvements — all with the goal of reducing risk and improving product-market alignment. For startups and small businesses, the phrase “test before you invest” […]

25 Jul 2019
A pile of colorful geometric cubes

We are blessed to be living in the age of information. Whether it’s historical publications, how-to videos, scientific data, conspiracy theories, or suppliers for a product you’re looking for, most people in America have it all at their fingertips. Unfortunately, this can also be a curse and create “decision constipation” for some. So, the question […]

13 Feb 2016

Rex Plastics Product Development Plastic Part Design Fundamentals Draft Angle   In this edition of our Product Development series, we’ll briefly overview a fundamental concept for plastic part design, ‘draft angle’. Draft angle, or ‘draft’ is essential for all plastic injection molded products. It facilitates the removal of the part from the mold.  Adding draft […]

12 May 2025
A CNC router works on a piece of wood.

If you’re researching CNC machining options for your next project, you’ve likely come across several different tools — namely the CNC router, CNC mill, and CNC lathe. Each of these machines plays a key role in manufacturing and prototyping, but they differ in capabilities, ideal materials, and applications. In this article, we’ll break down the […]

14 Apr 2025
An upturned, opaque plastic food tray on a wooden table.

When you’re planning a new plastic product, choosing the right manufacturing method is critical. Two popular options are injection molding and thermoforming. Each process comes with its own strengths, costs, and design capabilities — so picking the right one can make all the difference in your project’s success. In this guide, we’ll dive into what […]

27 Mar 2013

While a change to a product after launch can be quite expensive, making changes during the design stage is relatively inexpensive. Plastic part design is no exception. With today’s CAD software, it has never been easier to visualize, test, and modify designs. The Cost of Change    A well-designed plastic part involves numerous variables that […]