Keeping hot runner system costs down is key to efficient injection mold design. Designing standard items into a hot runner system or hot half can help reduce initial material costs and downtime, simplify spare parts ordering, increase design flexibility and system reliability, ease maintenance, and improve product delivery and quality. These standard items include parts [...]
Mold builders can optimize mold performance by taking advantage of advanced process cooling technology. Whether it’s for a precision mold with a relatively low production volume or a straightforward mold designed specifically for a high production run, the importance of incorporating process cooling continues to increase for mold builders. […]
Incorporating multiple-gate nozzles means smaller molds, small presses, a balanced fill rate, reduced residence time, temperature control and design flexibility. […]
As a rule, all plates over 50 kg mass must have lifting holes. If possible, lifting holes should be located so that they are not covered by other components and can be used for lifting even after the plate is partly or completely assembled. […]
There are basically two reasons for placing lifting holes on the face of a plate: […]
The location of these holes can only be determined at the completion of the mold design, after the location for all necessary heating and cooling channels and mounting holes and the shape of the mold part are finalized. It is usually best to provide the handling holes as close as possible above the center of [...]
During the design phase, the designer must try to foresee how a mold or mold part will be handled or mishandled. Where the handler, for example, the machinist, assembler, or molding technician, may cause injury to himself or the others. The designer must consider in all case show size, location, and number of tapped holes [...]
The workpiece material and the process parameters of a sinker EDM operation can impact productivity and profitability. Although most moldmakers will agree that the main objective for manufacturing any product is to make a profit, it is often difficult to ensure that the manufac-turing process is profitable and to continue to refine that process to consistently [...]
The right laser welding formula leads to efficient mold repair and increased tool life. Welding is commonly used in mold repair to restore the mold to its optimal working condition. Advanced laser welding technology, coupled with experienced welding technicians and a fully equipped, on-site metallography lab, can help minimize or eliminate the negative effects of [...]
Careful consideration of the entire machining system will improve milling of hardened steels. To maximize productivity and reliability, mold shops often machine a large portion of their products from hardened steels. Historically, hardened steels have been rough milled at low feeds and speeds, with large depths of cut and stepovers. […]