Draft Angles for Injection Moulding

If you would like to find out more on the injection moulding process, check out our resource on it here or head over to our injection moulding design guide for a brief overview.

What are draft angles and why are they important?

Draft angle is the degree of taper added to the side of faces and features on a moulded part. It can be measured in degrees or mm/mm. To answer why draft angles are important, we need to understand what happens during the injection moulding process. Parts are created by injecting molten plastic into a cavity (mould). When the plastic cools, it shrinks and grips to the mould. A draft is added so the part can be pulled away from the mould with minimum friction against the mould. Excessive friction will result in quality issues on the part and, more expensively, will reduce tool life.

Benefits of draft angles in injection moulding

In the process of injection moulding, a draft angle of 1-2 degrees is typically recommended for most parts. This guideline is applicable for parts with mould depths up to 50mm. With this draft angle, the part can be easily and non-destructively released from the mould, considering the expected shrinkage of the thermoplastic material.

• Reduces the possibility of the part being damaged when released from the mould
• Prevents the mould from excessive wear from the part ejection
• Ensures a clean, consistent and uniform surface finish
• Reduces the chances of scratching parts when being ejected
• Reduces the need for unconventional, complicated and expensive ejection setups
• Helps reduce post-production finishing costs caused by defects from manufacturing

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Key features of draft angles

All parts and features will require a different draft depending on what is being prioritised in the design. Minimum draft? Maximum tool life? However, there are some general industry guidelines that are useful to follow.

Add as much draft angle as possible

It is always suggested to give as much draft angle as possible in your designs to reduce friction on the part and mould. A good rule of thumb is to add at least 1 degree for every 25mm of cavity depth. The minimum advised draft angle is 0.25 degrees on vertical surfaces. For shutoff (metal on metal in the mould), add a minimum of 3 degrees of draft due to increased friction.

Increase draft for textured parts

If your part has a textured surface, it will be harder to eject from the mould due to the increased friction. Therefore parts with textured surfaces require additional draft angle to smooth surfaces. It is recommended to add 1.5 degrees for every 0.025 mm of texture depth.

Material effects draft angle

A material's characteristics also affect the amount of draft required. The more a material shrinks when cooling, the more it grips onto the mould, therefore requiring a greater draft. On the flip side, if a material is soft and flexible (like nylon), the draft angle can be reduced and sometimes even removed entirely.

Do I need a draft angle for my injection mould design?

Almost all injection moulded parts require some draft to be added to faces/features, and it is always better to air on the side of caution by adding more draft than less. Without adding a draft, your part runs the risk of having a poor cosmetic finish, breaking/bending, or damaging the mould.

It is recommended to add in draft early in the design process, not just when the part needs to be injection moulded. Often in the earlier prototyping stages, parts will be 3D printed where a draft can easily be forgotten as it is not required. However, it is best practice to design a part for injection moulding the first time around rather than redesigning it for injection moulding. So, always factor in draft in the early stages of prototyping so you can see how it affects the form and function of your part.

How to optimise your design for injection moulding

Use the rules above as general guidelines when incorporating draft into your injection moulded parts. Although important, adding draft is just one design consideration when effectively designing a part for injection moulding. Check out our Injection moulding guide to find out what other best practices should be considered when designing a high-quality injection moulded part. If you require some design for manufacture advice, feel free to contact Get It Made today to arrange a quote for injection moulding needs.