Sometimes, the best assembly is no assembly. If a feature can be formed or created in a part—rather than added to the part on the assembly line—then that’s one less process step engineers have to worry about.
That’s one of the drivers behind insert molding, the process of molding or forming plastic parts around metallic parts or inserts. The inserted components are typically simple, such as threaded fasteners, posts, clips, contacts or bushings. In some cases, however, inserts can be as complex as a battery or motor.