The fraser plant: plastic injection dreams
So ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated by mass production and molding. For years I've dabbled in miniatures, and the processes behind manufacturing them. To what end, I don't know.
Today I work in a plant that manufactures plastic parts for automotive. This plant takes little plastic pellets and forces them into steel molds, a process known as injection molding. The rest of the plant is all various forms of finishing for the plastic parts. Today I ran my hand through the bin of raw material plastic pellets. Above my head, thanks to a vacuum system, I heard the plastic sing through steel pipes, off to the dozen presses. I watched the stroke of a 50 ton press, knowing that the process is identical to things I'd done as a kid. I can't help but be amazed. How cool is this?
I think I dream. I dream of a facility where an artist brings a part in the front door. The part is scanned in 3d. From there a cnc robot cuts the molds. The molds would go into presses. The presses take plastic pellets and churn out parts. Like a factory for model cars. I don't know. I don't know what I'd do with such a setup, but I'd love to build it.
It feels sometimes like I'm looking at exactly what I dream about.
If I had a million dollars, I think I'd build one of these factories. Or maybe I'd just build a workshop so I could run it all myself. It'd be like a giant play set.
I don't know.