Which manufacturing process forces heated plastic into a cavity?

The manufacturing process that involves forcing heated plastic into a cavity is injection molding. This technique is specifically designed to produce parts by injecting molten thermoplastic materials into a mold under pressure. The process begins with heating plastic pellets until they melt, after which the molten plastic is injected into the mold, where it cools and solidifies to form the desired shape.

Injection molding is particularly valued for its ability to create complex and detailed shapes with high precision and repeatability, making it ideal for mass production of components across various industries. It can produce a wide range of products from simple designs to intricate geometries and is commonly used in the production of items such as containers, automotive parts, and electronic enclosures.

While other processes such as general molding, blow molding, and extrusion are also used in plastic fabrication, they operate under different principles and are suited for distinct types of applications. For instance, blow molding is typically used for hollow objects, and extrusion forces molten plastic continuously through a die, forming shapes like pipes or sheets, rather than depositing it in a cavity as in injection molding.