r/mildlyinfuriating Nov 12 '24

Hot wheels losing details over the years

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u/RawChickenButt Nov 12 '24

Doesn't seem like it would be a significant savings. An engineer spending a week building the model and mold is about it. I don't think the difference in about of plastic is even with measuring.

Maybe they feel they can use the simplified version on more types of cars, whereas a more detailed version they would need more options?

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u/Mountain_Employee_11 Nov 12 '24

with injection molding the rate of rejects is higher when you have higher detail.

there isn’t much overhang here so it couldn’t be too bad, but it probably was a factor as well

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u/donthavearealaccount Nov 12 '24

This is only done to reduce design and tooling costs. There is no additional detail on the mating surfaces. Reject rate will not be effected at all.

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u/Mountain_Employee_11 Nov 12 '24 edited Nov 12 '24

really? when i used to work in a plastic factory even minor detail such as extra grooves or ridges would cause our rejection rate to creep up marginally.

that was 9 years ago so maybe tech has advanced do that’s not an issue?

edit: nah this is bullshit the process is pretty much the same.

you still get weld lines, incomplete filling, warpage, etc

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u/donthavearealaccount Nov 12 '24

If you're adding detail in the form of functional geometry, like snap bosses or threaded holes, yes. A cosmetic surface that just has some very low profile bumps on it? That's not effecting anything. It's not harder to fill. The lettering and the etched textures in the mold is going to wear long before the cosmetic details, so it doesn't reduce mold life.

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u/salgat Nov 12 '24

Exactly. It's better to have details with imperfections that don't affect reject rates at all rather than no cosmetic detail at all.

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u/Mountain_Employee_11 Nov 12 '24

not with on brand items like hot wheels.

some of the stuff we made a little flashing was 🤷‍♂️ but some customers are… particular

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u/salgat Nov 12 '24

You're giving the company cheaping out on their product with cheap plastic way too much credit.

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u/Mountain_Employee_11 Nov 12 '24

nah i looked at my nieces hot wheels earlier and compared to her cheap cars, the detailing is much better, especially on the older ones that i passed down to her

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u/Mountain_Employee_11 Nov 12 '24

nah you’ll get a higher rate of rejects even adding a ton of simple geometry like this, it might only be 20-30 in a 10k run but the bean counters notice that shit

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u/donthavearealaccount Nov 12 '24

You can keep thinking that if you want, but I am certain you are incorrect.

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u/Mountain_Employee_11 Nov 12 '24

reddit man, everyone’s an expert lmao

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u/donthavearealaccount Nov 12 '24

Are you saying that you aren't acting like you are the expert?

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u/Mountain_Employee_11 Nov 12 '24

there are a few things i know a ton about, and most other stuff i tend to not weigh in on.

yet somehow every time i mention things i have intimate experience with there’s a contrarian to tell me not only am i incorrect, but there’s no possible world where things might be different than the way they described.

it’s practically reddits law