Actually we knew at the core issues associated with the common practice of conventional (±) tolerancing, including origins of measurement, repeatability of sizes and centers, orientation and angles and tolerance accumulation. Here, we will address these issues using the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing standard (ASME Y14.5 GD&T). Geometric Dimensioning and [...]
As a decision-maker in the manufacturing sector, you are familiar with (if not a devotee of) Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence and similar continuous improvement approaches. One of the essential takeaways from continuous improvement technologies is that you need meaningful data to make decisions. For example, suppose you are like most mold manufacturers and rely [...]
Plastic injection molds cost anywhere between $100 for a 3D printed low-volume injection mold to $100,000+ for a complex multi-cavity steel mold for high-volume production, which generally represents the most significant fixed start-up cost in injection molding. However, as these costs get distributed among hundreds or thousands of parts, injection molding is an ideal process [...]
There is no doubt about it: More and more molds are being designed to include hot runner systems or hot sprue bushings. For those who build and run hot runner molds, it is not hard to see the reasons why. While expensive to build, hot runner molds can be more economical in the long run [...]
Every company is based on a foundation of knowledge. That knowledge is often taught from a senior mold builder to a junior mold builder. Sadly, that knowledge can be lost over time. Here we’ll focus on taking a real-world look at capturing and reusing company know-how. By using software automation, mold builders can instill company [...]
Ten years ago, there was a broadly accepted and well-defined route that a product developer might travel to take a product from concept to actual part. Generally, that path would include 2D and 3D drawings of the components and their assembly, which would go through various prototyping stages in low-cost, low-volume manufacturing methods such as [...]
There’s a lot of room for expensive errors when it comes to injection molding. Quality issues in injection-molded products can range from minor surface defects to more serious problems that can affect the safety, performance and function of the product. They can be caused by problems related to the molding process, material use, tooling design [...]
When considering an actuator for an injection molding application, review three positions to determine the impact on cylinder type and capacity: initial breakaway, movement through the stroke, and final positioning. Physical force requirements for each (both set and pull) will provide insight into the most limiting conditions and direct selection of the most appropriate product [...]
Additive manufacturing (AM) is becoming a growing priority for many mold companies. This is happening because of decreasing cycle times made available by new tool design capabilities made possible by AM, like conformal cooling. As recently as three years ago, moldmakers might have felt that customers were unwilling to pay the extra cost associated with [...]
Every company is based on a foundation of knowledge. That knowledge is often taught from a senior mold builder to a junior mold builder. Sadly, that knowledge can be lost over time. Here we’ll focus on taking a real-world look at capturing and reusing company know-how. By using software automation, mold builders can instill company [...]