If you opt to use aluminum for your next mold project, it’s important to select the appropriate aluminum alloy. Alloys are created when elements including copper, magnesium and zinc are added to the base aluminum. Each added element contributes individual beneficial properties that will improve the aluminum. […]
Different aluminum alloys require differing welding wires in order for successful welding to be achieved. Characteristics of the wire should match those of the specific alloy on which it will be welded, and the wire’s color-matching ability, strength and effect on HAZ should also be considered. Additionally, the welding wire must have a melting temperature [...]
Once the proper wire has been selected, focus must shift to the proper technique for mold alloy to be welded. This is the largest contributor to a successful weld repair. A proper technique involves more than the actual welding; it must also take into account ambient conditions and preheating of the material, which will remove [...]
Most mold builders are familiar with the 5S workplace organization method for lean manufacturing, which embraces the concepts of sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain. Each aspect focuses on avoiding waste and can easily serve as a basis for continuous improvement within mold shops that use EDM and graphite. […]
The set-in-order 5S principle involves making workflow smooth and easy, arranging items for easy selection and preventing lost time. […]
Standardizing involves adopting best practices, establishing a standard for every process, aligning everything in its right place and maintaining high standards of workplace organization. […]
Properly increase section dimension of gate and runner; the position of gate is set at thick walls of the plastic parts and should be as symmetric as possible; improve mold exhausting condition; set cold-slug well with sufficient capacity to avoid cold material’s entering into the cavity and influencing filling and shrinkage compensation; […]
Properly improve injection and dwell pressure as well as the injection rate to increase melt's compression tightness; prolong time of injection and dwell( the freezing of gate should not occur too early) to realize sufficient shrinkage compensation; properly reduce melt temperature and properly raise mold temperature( whereas cooling should be reinforce at parts with thick [...]
Optimize prescription of plastics and prefer use resins with low shrinkage; reduce dosage of recycled materials; dry the material as much as possible; […]
The injection products should not be too thick and when necessary the stiffening rid can be added to reduce wall thickness; the wall thickness must be kept as uniform as possible and the shape and structure should be simple and symmetric; […]