Injection Molded (Plastic) Magnets

Injection molding uses a solid binder (e.g. a plastic or thermosetting epoxy) plus the magnetic material but gives a greater variety of shapes and complexity of shapes compared to compression bonded. The end material is isotropic - the magnetizing coil fixture design determines the magnetic pattern it takes.

Overmolding is possible with injection molding process. Injection molded magnets are produced in tens or hundreds of thousands of magnets per production run.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Injection Molded (Plastic) Magnets

Advantages

  • More complex shapes are possible
  • Overmold, insert mold, etc all possible
  • NdFeB, SmCo, Alnico and Ferrite versions possible
  • Hybrid versions as well (e.g. Ferrite+NdFeB) with combined properties
  • Low electrical conductivity, low eddy currents
  • Good tolerances. More resistant to chipping than compression bonded

Disadvantages

  • Injection molded magnets offer lower magnetic performance than the compression bonded magnets (due to lower magnetic loading)
  • Possible tooling charges for production and magnetizing

Typical Applications for Injection Molded (Plastic) Magnets

  • Motors
  • Sensors
  • Injection molded rotor assemblies
  • Insert molded magnetic components
  • Overmolded magnetic components

Example: A company required a ring magnet with multiple poles around the outer circumference for rotary movement sensing. An injection molded ferrite magnet was magnetised with a dedicated magnetising fixture to create the required multiple pole pattern. The ring also had a slot added to fit onto the keyway on a shaft to locking in place in the assembly.