For large injection-molded parts, a servo-driven valve gate system can improve surface finish and part performance. The art of sequential molding has proven to be a beneficial process in many markets. Automotive suppliers are one of the largest users of this technology, especially for the production of plastic parts with Class A surface finishes. Sequential [...]
Capitalizing on its unique characteristics can help you fully realize the potential of five-axis machining. There is always a correlation between the market for a product and technology. The trend towards reducing the number of components, for example, has led to increasing complexity of individual workpieces. The availability of five-axis machining followed by five-axis simultaneous [...]
Mold builders and molders should carefully consider hot runner selection, as it dramatically impacts an injection molding system’s speed, quality and uptime. […]
I think safety must be a primary consideration of the mold designer, how can a mold, or any heavy mold part, handled safely? No person should repeatedly lift parts heavier than 20kg or any part which is awkward to handle, regardless of weight, without some mechanical assistance, such as a hoist. Not only should nobody [...]
There are four situations during which part or all of the molds is handled […]
Molds have to be cleaned. There’s no way to avoid it. But what if the mold could clean itself, eliminating the negative impact of manual maintenance on productivity? […]
Moldmakers benefit the most, by far, from fully digital sinker EDM generators. The digital technology has advanced the functionality of generators to the point where mold shops can now precisely control and manipulate the EDM spark. Such control allows them to produce components that reduce overall mold maintenance costs for their customers. […]
Every moldmaker strives for higher cutting speeds and reduced electrode wear to increase overall mold production efficiency. However, as burn speed/spark power increases, so, too, does risk of damage to the part surface, especially in those applications where cavity undersizes are tight. […]
The ability of an EDM electrode to produce and maintain details is a crucial part of the machining process, and that ability is affected by its wear resistance, particularly when intricate details or thin, deep ribs are involved. To achieve maximum EDM productivity, moldmakers need technology that allows them to reduce electrode erosion/wear, ideally by [...]
The high-strength aluminum alloys available today are feasible alternatives to steel for tooling. Originally used primarily for the production of prototypes because of its lower cost, aluminum offers several other advantages that make it a viable option for production molds. […]