5 Essential Anti-Leak Methods for Vape Hardwares

E-liquid leaking is a widespread and irritating problem for vape hardware users. Understanding what causes vape leaking is crucial to prevent it. Vape leaking refers to the e-liquid escaping from inside the vape pen, such as from the oil cup’s exterior, the center hole, the atomizer’s bottom base, the mouthpiece, or other unexpected areas. Recently, we visited Shenzhen MOKI Technology Co., Ltd. and spoke with their structural engineer, Bing Lee, to gain insights into this issue. We were impressed by the meticulous processes involved in creating a vape pen and the company’s dedication to quality.

Understanding E-liquid Leakage of Vape Hardwares

Styles and Causes of E-liquid Leakage

By Time Style: Direct Leaking and Permeable Leaking

• Direct Leaking: This is a rapid leakage that occurs shortly after e-liquid injection. Common causes include improper manual operations, such as forgetting assembly materials, not following the production sequence, or misaligning the needle with the oil cup or absorbent cotton. Additionally, unreasonable machine or tooling settings, like over-injection or a too-large needle, can lead to direct leakage. Poor material quality, such as defective sealing rings, is another factor.
• Permeable Leaking: This is a slow leakage that becomes apparent over time or due to environmental changes. It can be attributed to unreasonable product structure design, material issues like density variations or hardware size errors, and environmental factors like temperature differences or extreme weather conditions. Chemical reactions, such as e-liquid with fruit acid reacting with plastic materials, can also cause permeable leaks.

By Other Style: Inhale Leaking, Normal Temperature Static Leaking, and Reliability Test Leaking

• Inhale Leaking: This involves e-liquid being directly inhaled without atomization or condensate being inhaled due to design flaws.
• Normal Temperature Static Leaking: Often caused by human error, incorrect oiling machine parameters, or material and design issues.
• Reliability Test Leaking: This includes various tests like high altitude negative pressure, temperature and humidity, and is generally due to similar factors as above.

Vape Hardware Anti-Leak Methods

Precautions Before Production

• Be cautious with structural design, require reasonable tolerances, and select appropriate materials (PCTG PETG is recommended for plastic parts in contact with e-liquid).
• Follow the new product import specification and APQP management process, ensuring documentation and results at each stage.
• Prepare for mass production with documents, machinery, equipment, working fixtures, materials, and trained operators.

Precautions During Production

• Adhere to the process for assembly line production and follow SOP for the first article inspection.
• Inspect materials against specifications, drawings, samples, and label qualified products.
• Debug the e-liquid injection machine according to specifications, with quality control inspection before batch production.
• Manage tooling with quality control and production personnel, ensuring the first article is inspected and qualified before batch production.
• IPQC should strictly follow BOM, drawings, SIP, SOP, and QCP for the first article. Patrol inspection personnel should monitor for abnormalities and notify technical personnel.
• FQC and OQC should operate strictly according to SIP and SOP, recording test issues and notifying technicians for abnormalities.
• Manage shifts and production changes responsibly, ensuring the e-liquid injection is followed by pressing the bottom cover daily to prevent flavor changes.
• Batch management is crucial, collecting and using e-liquid on a first-in, first-out basis, and matching radium carving with e-liquid.
• Mark defective products for repair, ensuring they pass QC inspection before resuming production. Separate repaired products from normal ones.
• Pack oil cups upside down and paste protective labels on outer boxes.
• Analyze e-liquid leakage in production with quality, engineering, and production leaders, with PQE leading the analysis.

After Bing Lee’s detailed explanation, we gained a deeper understanding of why our vapes might leak and commend Shenzhen MOKI Technology Co., Ltd. for their rigorous production methods. They fully deserve recognition as a top leading disposable vape pen manufacturer in China. Let’s give them a thumbs up!