In most welding shops, there is a certain procedure for handling a mold from when it arrives for repair to when it is ready for a customer. At my company, it is a seven-step process that may require adjustments depending on whether we are using micro-TIG or laser welding. […]
Copper beryllium alloys are heavily used worldwide in the plastic industry in the manufacture of injection mold components that are then used to make containers from different types of plastic resins. It is estimated that 50 percent of the plastic injection industry uses this material for this purpose. […]
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. […]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]