With requirements for lowest weight, highest thermal conductivity and ease of machinability, tool and mold applications are a natural opportunity for aluminum. Aluminum producers have responded with often-proprietary and trade-named products tailored to meet the diversity of challenges presented by these applications. […]
Global steel prices have soared in the past months, far beyond levels that anyone inside or outside of the steel industry forecasted last November and December. […]
When it comes to surface finish, it must be understood that any defect that appears on the surface of the mold will be replicated onto the surface of the molded part. If the mold surface contains scratches, pits, welds, uneven textured patterns, etc., […]
Reduced machining time reduces leadtime, lowers labor costs and improves machine use. You can build more tools in less time, increasing revenues. First-rate Mold Solution Co., Ltd experienced what the modified P-21 grades could do to machining time first-hand. President Steven discusses a tool cost analysis he was asked to do in 1992 for the [...]
The most discussed topic in the mold building industry today is cheaper tooling from offshore competition. Most often these discussions revolve around unfair low labor costs; however, many mold builders fail to realize that steel selection can play a major role in closing the price gap with offshore tooling. […]
Design changes during tool construction are a fact of life. If the change takes place after texturing or polishing, the tool builder may have to start over. Welding on high carbon steels can cause a dramatic rise in hardness in the area adjoining the welded area-called the heat-affected zone (HAZ). […]
The questions most people are contemplating are: to what extent will steel prices retreat in future months, and will they stay low? […]
The first production meeting with my new employer went something like this: “We want you to establish a PM program that is based on maximum cycle counts for all our molds.” Then, before I could launch into an explanation of how best to determine maximum cycle counts, I was hit with the follow-up: “So, how [...]
Moldmakers are always trying to identify ways to become more efficient, reduce costs, improve quality and become more diverse. In other words, how to make more money. Talk to a molder about machine processes and they think efficiency. Talk to them about productivity and they want to find out ways to fill their shop to [...]
The basis for making consistent parts for your customers is simply identifying where the physics and chemistry of plastics processing come together—inside of the mold cavity. It is in the cavity where the plastic changes from a liquid to a solid. In other words, this is where the PVT (Pressure-Volume-Temperature) properties of the plastic occur. [...]