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Injection mold for lego brick-like parts

We will introduce here 2 products that we have done before related to LEGO parts:

Lego screen canopy   close up view 2 of plastic bricks

1. A Lego part;     2. A part similar to Lego bricks


1. An injection mold for a Lego Part

Information of the part

MaterialPC
Size48*48*20mm
Weight7.96 grams
Tolerance for the key dimension+/-0.01mm
Mold type2 cavity, cold runner

Critical requirements:

Tight tolerances of up to ±0.01mm

Lego parts rely on the round protrusion of one part to fit into the round indentation of another part (or the grooves between protrusions) to obtain the right tightness of fit.

lego part fit requirements lego part fit with mating partsrequest a quote

This fit of LEGO parts is so sensitive to size, and a difference of 0.02mm will make you feel different tightness. If the deviation reaches 0.04mm, then the part is unusable.

dimensional tolerances for lego parts dimensional inspection of lego parts

 

Please note: Using a vernier caliper to measure is not precise, in fact, it still needs to use special gauges to measure the mold dimensions.

At the same time, we use gauges or matching plastic parts to check the dimensions of plastic Lego parts.

For example, we used 3 pins with diameters of 3.20, 3.22 and 3.23 mm to check the hole for making the Φ3.23 ±0.01 pole. The holes were machined by mirror finish EDM. The machine itself is quite precise, it is just the tool offset that needs to be checked precisely with the utmost attention to make the machined dimension precise.

small pole on lego part
These poles need to be made to Φ3.23±0.01
holes in the mold to make the poles lego parts
These holes on the mold are to make the Φ3.23 poles. They were checked by pins with diameters 3.20,3.22 and 3.23 mm.

High-precision machining methods

Therefore, the injection molds of Lego parts are all completed by high-precision machining methods, such as slow wire cutting and mirror EDM. When machining the mold, appropriate inspection methods must also be used to ensure that the dimensions are within the tolerance range.

injection mold lego part general view injection mold core for lego part close view injection mold cavity for lego part close view

3d modeling from the original sample

When we want to make a replica of Lego parts, the first thing is to make a high-precision 3D model based on the sample. This is the basis for subsequent precision machining. Not only do we need to measure the original sample itself, but also measure the parts that match it, so as to avoid deviations caused by the inaccuracy in the original sample.

3D modeling of Lego part from original sample
3d file in step format

Smooth and flat surfaces

The surface of Lego parts needs to be flat and smooth, so that the product looks classy. Here we compare two samples, where the good part has a smoother surface and more uniform reflection, while the bad part has a rougher surface and can see a feeling of high and low depression in the reflection. In the photo, this difference is less obvious, but when you see the real thing, this difference is less likely to be ignored.

comparison between good and bad lego parts picture 1 comparison between good and bad lego parts picture 2 comparison between good and bad lego parts 3

(Note: This kind of surface unevenness is a sign of a rough machining process. The surface that should have been machined by mirror EDM was replaced by ordinary EDM, which made it necessary to use manual polishing to achieve the required smoothness, and this kind of polishing would lead to uneven surface. Mirror EDM can achieve a relatively smooth finish, so that only a very small amount of polishing is needed to achieve the desired smoothness.)

Mirror EDM of lego injection mold
Mirror EDM and the electrode

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2. An injection mold for Lego brick-like parts 

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These parts may be a bit more challenging than the average Lego part because it not only has high tolerance requirements for the inner dimensions, but also for the external dimensions.

 

close up view 1 of plastic brickssimilar lego bricks (with sprue attached)

Part Specifications

MaterialABS (black)
Size30*14*8.6mm
Weight0.5 grams
Tolerance for the key dimension+/-0.02mm
Mold type1+1 family mold, cold runner

Mold price: $1,500

  • Cavity number: 1+1, family mold
  • Mold material: 718H
  • Lead time: 35 days

The 2 parts we made are quite similar to Lego bricks, both in appearance and function. They need to be pressed into their mating parts by hand with proper pressure and should be removed manually without too much difficulty.

How these parts work

These bricks will fit into the round bumps of the corresponding part.

pegboard for plastic bricks

At the same time, they will also slide into the rectangular slot on the outer dimensions.

cavity for plastic bricks

Inspection gauge for checking the plastic part

We made a measuring tool to check the molded bricks. The critical dimensions (shown in the below image) are the same as the real parts these plastic bricks will be used for.

critical dimensions for inspection gauge

cnc machined inspection gauge for plastic bricks

How to ensure the internal dimensions

First of all, we need to ensure the machining dimensions of the mold. The mold dimensions need to be accurately measured and controlled.

Secondly, for the inspection of the molded plastic parts, this inspection tool is very useful for checking internal dimensions, because the caliper is less accurate for checking small internal dimensions. By using the inspection tool, we only need to judge whether the size is qualified according to the tightness of the fit.

How to check the outside dimensions

Other than using the inspection tool, we check the outside dimensions with a caliper.

inspection result for the plastic bricks

You can see from the results that the measurements show a good level of consistency.

Avoid sink marks and weld lines

One thing we always need to consider while making a mold is to avoid molding defects or keep them within an acceptable level. For these 2 parts, the particular defects we need to pay attention to are sink marks and weld lines.

Here are some close-up views of the plastic bricks, the weld lines and sink marks are all within an acceptable level.
close up view 2 of plastic bricks close up view 1 of plastic bricksrequest a quote

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