Traditionally drawings have been an indispensable and unambiguous definition of the finished product—a vital part of the service agreement between the customer and those responsible for tooling and inspection. Unfortunately, for many shops, 3D models are still only a supplement to the official authority of the drawing. However, a growing number of companies involved in [...]
Injection molders quote or estimate a job based on six primary factors: part weight, material cost, machine size, cycle time, labor requirements and packaging. The material and packaging costs are relatively easy to obtain from suppliers, which makes them fixed values—not estimates. Thanks to solid modeling software programs, part weight is also a fixed value, [...]
It seems there are a lot of classes and programs available that you can earn the title of ‘expert’ in a few short weeks or months. While that may work for a some jobs, a mold designer needs to have a substantially more experience to earn the reputation on an expert. If you’ve ever wondered [...]
Injection molding is one of the leading processes for manufacturing plastics. It is widely used for mass-producing identical parts with tight tolerances. It is a cost-effective and extremely repeatable technology that yields high-quality parts for large series production. It is a fast, intensive process where high heat and pressure are involved to inject molten material [...]
Mold builders encounter many challenges when deep-hole drilling, including hole straightness, poor cutting tool life and excessive time spent in the hole. Troubleshooting these challenges requires a look at correct coolant flow, pressure and chip evacuation but begins with understanding the limitations of the cutting tools, toolholders and machines. Time—whether spent in the hole, changing [...]
Proper mold venting is essential for producing quality parts. During the molding process, the air contained in the mold needs a way to escape, otherwise the melt will compress and trap that air in the cavity. A combination of melt pressure and high temperature will then ignite the oxygen (called the “diesel effect”), causing burnings [...]
Everyday mold builders face various challenges as they tackle each new mold project that enters the shop. Whether it involves engineering, building, maintaining, or repairing molds, this industry’s dedicated technology suppliers offer solutions. Here are some insights and instructions to help your team through four specific challenges. 1） How to Reduce Risk in Plastic Part [...]
1. Control Your Molds Far too many companies that have their products made overseas wrongly assume they will own the molds and the accompanying IP used to make their products. If you do not pay for your molds upfront and have a contract that both works for the country in which your molds are being [...]
If you have been considering sourcing to injection mold makers China, you probably know that it isn’t nearly as easy or straightforward an endeavor as it sounds. There are several ways to establish a provider, a number of different aspects to consider before making your final selection, and a variety of negotiations that need to [...]
Metrology is an enabling technology and today’s options provide invaluable insight concerning the demands of micro-size tooling and parts. Metrology equipment and skills are used to measure steel details in the mold, part features/dimensions to ensure the parts meet print tolerance and to guarantee a capable process. Typically, shops use high-end optical white light interferometer-based [...]