Injection Molding defect:molding air trap Solving molding air trap problems Definition Air traps occur when converging flow fronts surround and trap a bubble of air. The trapped air can cause incomplete filling and packing, and will often cause a surface blemish in the final part. Air trapped in pockets may compress, heat up and cause burn marks. Causes Racetrack effect Hesitation Unbalanced flow paths Flow paths do not need the racetrack effect or hesitation to have unbalanced flow. In a part with uniform thickness, the physical length of flow paths may vary, and again air traps may occur. Inadequate venting Lack of vents or undersized vents in these last-to-fill areas are a common cause of air traps. Remedies Balance flow paths Avoid hesitation and racetrack effects Balance runners Changing the runner system can alter the filling pattern in such a way that the last-to-fill areas are located at the proper venting locations. Vent appropriately If air traps do exist, they should be positioned in regions that can be easily vented or ejection and/or vent pins added so that air can be removed.
