In plastic manufacturing, specifically injection molding, plastic tooling refers to the process of designing and creating the molds that give shape to melted plastic. These tools and molds are essential in mass-producing plastic parts with precision and efficiency.

Plastic overmolding is a manufacturing process where two or more plastic materials are combined to create a single, unified part. It is sometimes also called two-shot molding because it usually involves a thermoplastic being molded onto a second material (like rigid plastic). Overmolding improves a product's overall aesthetics and functionality.

Insert molding is a manufacturing process where a pre-formed part is inserted into a mold, and then plastic is molded around it to create a finished part. This technique is used in the production of a wide range of products, from military and aerospace components to medical devices and more.

New product design in plastic manufacturing refers to the process of creating innovative plastic products. It involves conceptualizing, designing, prototyping, and producing plastic parts or products that meet specific requirements and market needs. The plastic product design process often includes considerations such as material selection, functionality, aesthetics, manufacturability, and cost-efficiency. The goal of new product design in plastic manufacturing is to bring innovative, functional, and marketable plastic products to the market.

Post molding operations are the additional processes and services performed on injection molded plastic parts after the initial molding process is complete. These operations are crucial to perfect the product specifications, functionality, and appearance, and ensure every detail meets the exact standards.

Secondary manufacturing processes are all the services that happen after the initial forming of the plastic part. These services are used to improve the aesthetics, functionality, and precision of the molded plastic parts. Secondary manufacturing processes allow manufacturers to deliver a more complete, value-added product to the customer, meeting their specific requirements beyond just the initial molded part.

Design for manufacturing (DFM) is the general engineering practice of designing products in a way that makes them easy and cost-effective to manufacture. Design for manufacturing optimization focuses on material selection and the manufacturing process. The goal is to create high-quality products at the lowest possible cost.

Design for assembly (DFA) is an engineering process that optimizes product design to streamline the assembly process earlier and more thoroughly. The goal of DFA optimization is to minimize the cost, time, and challenges involved in the assembly process.

Reverse engineering refers to the process of dissecting a plastic product or component to understand its manufacturing process, material composition, and design specifications. This can involve breaking down the product into its constituent parts, analyzing the properties of the plastic used, and studying the manufacturing techniques used to create it.

Custom fixturing is designing and fabricating specialized tools, jigs, or fixtures that hold and support plastic components during various manufacturing processes. These fixtures are customized to the produced parts' specific dimensions, shapes, and requirements.

Thermoplastic resins are a class of synthetic materials that are designed and formulated to have specific mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrical properties to meet the demands of various industrial applications. These resins are typically synthesized through controlled chemical processes, allowing manufacturers to tailor their properties to suit specific requirements. The key feature that distinguishes thermoplastic resins from their counterparts, thermoset resins, is their ability to be remelted and reshaped after initial processing.

Rapid prototyping is quickly creating physical prototypes of plastic parts or products using additive manufacturing technologies. Unlike traditional methods like injection molding, which can be time-consuming and expensive, rapid prototyping allows for faster and more cost-effective production of prototype parts.