Many manufacturers are concerned with reducing their energy consumption — some due to environmental concerns and others because saving energy means saving money, which goes directly to the bottom line. For example, if your profit margin is 10% and you generate 3% savings, that equals a 30% increase in sales volume. In other words, saving [...]
For years we have been hearing about the virtues of aluminum molds for injection parts, and First-rate mold company’s Mold Builders has built its fair share—mostly for special-purpose applications that did not require many actions. For smaller molds using specialty aluminum has its benefits; and, if cycle times are critical, you can justify the high [...]
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. First, this question needs to be addressed. Alternative materials, particularly a range of [...]
Aluminum molds is a hot topic with molders and moldmakers alike discussing and debating the advantages of using aluminum as a cost-effective way to become more competitive. Because the advantages are very valid ones—e.g., shorter leadtimes on the tool build due to faster machining times, […]