Cavity Separation: Smarter Sorting for Better Molding
When One Cavity Goes Bad, Don’t Scrap Them All
There’s nothing worse than discovering a bad cavity after a night shift—especially when you can’t tell good parts from bad ones. Without cavity separation, your only choice may be to sort everything manually—or scrap the entire lot.
But with even basic separation in place, you can isolate the affected cavity’s output, retrieve parts from specific bins or lanes, and keep the rest of production moving. It’s simple, proactive quality control that can save thousands in scrap, rework, and reputation.
Why Cavity Separation Matters
Cavity separation isn’t just about staying organized—it’s about traceability, precision, and accountability. Whether you’re molding 4 or 64 parts at a time, the ability to separate by cavity leads to:
- Faster root cause analysis
- Smarter quality checks
- Part-level traceability
- Better regulatory compliance
- Less waste and more confidence
Popular Methods of Cavity Separation
1.Robotic Pick-and-Place with Cavity Mapping
Best for: High-value parts needing full traceability
Robots place parts into mapped trays, totes, conveyors, or tube chutes by cavity. When linked to MES or mold tracking, it enables full history and integrates well with QC systems.
Benefits:
- Tracks part origin
- Eases inspections and rejections
- Supports vision systems
2.Multi-Tier Conveyors or Lane Separation
Best for: Medium to high cavitation with simple parts
Fixed lanes or diverters guide parts into separate bins as they exit the mold.
Benefits:
- Reduces sorting errors
- Easy to automate
- Space-efficient
3.Indexing Tables or Rotary Trays
Best for: Cleanroom or lights-out operations
Tables rotate each cycle to isolate parts by cavity or cycle. Ideal for no-touch environments.
Benefits:
- Fully automated
- Prevents cross-contamination
- Supports varied production
4.Drop Gates (Pneumatic or Servo-Controlled)
Best for: Fast, high-cavity runs
Gates open by signal to direct parts to the correct lane. Great for automation and reject handling.
Benefits:
- Highly precise
- Syncs with robotics
- Containment-friendly
5.Robotic Drop into Tube Chutes
Best for: High cavitation with space or cleanliness constraints
Robots drop parts into dedicated chutes directly under the EOAT. Each tube leads to a separate bin or station.
Benefits:
- Maintains separation
- Reduces contamination
- Compact and clean
6.Micro Molding: Ultra-Precision, Ultra-Accountability
Best for: Medical, electronics, and small parts
Tiny parts require strict separation. Cavity-specific handling supports traceability and regulatory compliance.
Benefits:
- Part-level tracking
- ISO/FDA ready
- Prevents mix-ups
Cavity by Cavity, the Smart Way Forward
Whether you’re molding closures or Class II medical parts, cavity separation gives you control over quality, cost, and customer confidence. You don’t need the most advanced automation to start—just a smart approach.
Because the next time a cavity fails at 2 a.m., you’ll be glad you knew exactly where each part came from.
Don’t let one bad cavity ruin a full production run—ask us how automated cavity separation can protect your uptime and your bottom line.
Contact the Turner Group at sales@turnergroup.net