How to Design Ribs for Plastic Parts:
Injection Moulding Design Guide

Ribs are thin support features frequently found in plastic injection moulded part designs. They are often used strategically to replace thick wall sections to avoid sink marks, warp, and voids, and help improve overall part function. In some cases, ribs also act as decorative features.

To fully benefit from the capabilities of rib features, it is important that your injection mould model is designed according to a number of recommendations. This article covers the scenarios in which ribs should be used in injection moulding and offers a comprehensive guide to the best design practices for rib features.

When to incorporate rib features in your design

We’ve listed several scenarios below in which rib features work particularly well for:

• Plastic parts that require maximum strength without increased wall thickness
• Plastic parts that are subject to pressure, torsion and bending
• Plastic parts that are complex and large
• Plastic parts needing extra strength without increasing overall weight or material usage

Rib Design Guidelines

Rib Height

Rib height should not exceed 3 times the nominal wall thickness. Ribs that are too long will increase the difficulty of injection moulding, causing problems like voids and sink marks. Ideally, you want to keep ribs as short as possible while still being functional.

Rib Thickness

As a general rule of thumb, ribs should not be thicker than 60% of the nominal wall thickness. Maintaining an appropriate rib-to-wall ratio is essential to prevent issues such as air bubbles, shrinkage patterns and stress concentration. Ultimately, avoid thick ribs whenever possible.

Rib Radii

The base of a rib should always be rounded with a radius to prevent an area of concentrated stress in the part. This radius should typically be 0.5 to 1 times the thickness of the part wall to increase rib strength.

Rib Spacing

When incorporating multiple ribs, it’s recommended to space them out at least 2 to 3 times the nominal wall thickness. It’s essential to leave adequate space, as ribs placed too close together can create cooling issues, which can increase cycle times and sink risk.

Rib Draft

A draft angle of at least 0.5 degrees on each side should be incorporated to allow for easy part ejection from the mould. Only crush ribs should be made without a draft angle.

Summary of Rib Design Guidelines

Injection moulding rib design best practices

Incorporating ribs is a critical feature that should be carefully considered for nearly all enclosures, housings, casings and other plastic parts where wall thickness is important. In order to ensure successful moulding of rib designs, it is important to closely follow best design practices.

• Avoid Excessive Ribbing: Overloading a design with excessive ribs can significantly prolong cycle times, heighten ejection risks, and increase material usage. Instead, focus on strategic placement of ribs only where necessary to provide the required structural support while minimising these drawbacks.
• Ensure Adequate Vents: It it essential properly vent around ribs in injection-moulded parts, as improper vent will cause excessive injection pressure, short shots, burn marks, sink and splay.
• Maintain Uniform Wall Thickness: Variations in wall thickness can lead to uneven cooling rates, warping, and dimensional inaccuracies. Maintaining uniform wall thickness is crucial to enhance mould filling, minimize cycle times, and improve overall part quality and appearance.
• Avoid Abrupt Transitions From Thin to Thick: Sudden changes in thickness from thin to thick sections can result in uneven filling, increased shrinkage, and potential defects such as sink marks or warping. Gradual transitions help promote uniform material flow and reduce stress concentrations.
• Follow Rib Design Guidelines: Considering factors like rib height, length, placement, and orientation helps optimize part design for efficient moulding and superior mechanical properties.

Injection moulding & DFM feedback with HLH Rapid

Use the Rib Design Guidelines above to help design your parts for manufacturing then export your 3D CAD files in an STEP format. Submit your drawings to our site contact form and our engineering team will get back with a quote and comprehensive DFM (design for manufacturing) feedback.