How are plastic eyeglass frames made?

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Accepted Answer

Plastic eyeglass frames are made by injection molding: heated plastic is injected into a steel mold, cooled, de-burred, and finished with color or coating. This is different from acetate frames, which are cut from sheet stock rather than molded. READSUN runs injection lines next to its acetate and metal lines, so buyers can mix materials in one order.

Injection-molded plastic eyeglass frame from READSUN

Plastic frame product range at the READSUN facility

Finished plastic eyewear frames worn by a model

Plastic Eyeglass Frames: The Full Production Process

Mold design: engineers build a CNC-milled steel mold for the frame shape.
Injection molding: heated plastic is forced into the mold under pressure.
Cooling and ejection: the part cools, then is released from the mold.
Deburring: gates and flash are trimmed off the raw frame.
Surface finishing: frames are sprayed, plated, or printed for color and feel.
Hinge assembly: metal hinges are set and secured to front and temples.
Quality check: fit, finish, and screws are inspected before packing.

Plastic Injection vs Acetate Sheet

Injection plastic and acetate are both "plastic" in everyday language, but they are made differently. Injection frames come from melted plastic in a mold, which is fast and cheap for volume. Acetate frames are cut and polished from colored sheet, which feels richer but costs more per piece. See the equipment behind both on our manufacturing capabilities page.

How READSUN Runs Plastic Eyeglass Frames

Buyers can start from an existing model or a fresh mold. Explore custom optical frames, review OEM and ODM eyewear services, or read manufacturing capabilities before requesting a quote.

Step order, materials, and finishing vary by design; the list above reflects READSUN's standard injection workflow rather than a fixed spec for every style.

Want plastic frames made to spec? Start a custom frame project with READSUN.