For the second attempt with the injection molding machine I went to our old farmhouse in the woods. No neighbors to disturb if the contraption starts bellowing out smoke like the last time.

But it didnt! It actually worked quite good this time, even if some improvements are needed for it to be truly usable. All in all, not too bad for a machine that only cost me around 400 USD.

It will probably suffice to insulate the nozzle, preheat the aluminium mold plus redesign it with a slightly bigger inlet. Because the melted plastic solidified way to quick and didnt get very far into the mold as you can see...

And of course this is not one of the final molds, but just an early attempt at milling aluminium in my benchtop CNC.

Slow but steady. Build, measure, learn!