One of the issues facing the moldmaker is choosing the right steel. In many cases the choice is made by the customer; however, in many other instances it is up to the moldmaker—Which alloy should I use? Which hardness? What about toughness? […]
The most commonly used method for cleaning plastic injection molds today remains the somewhat antiquated process of scrubbing tooling and plates, one piece at a time. Ask why, and the answers will probably be: […]
Spray-formed steel is steel manufactured using a unique new process technology called the Osprey process. The steel is melted in a crucible using two induction furnaces and is then atomized in a spray chamber under a protected atmosphere. […]
For as long as there have been molds, there has been the need for tool welding. This is to repair or restore components for molds as well as restore surfaces machined or worn out of specification. The exact reasons for using the welding process is to eliminate fabrication of a new part or parts affected [...]
As a result of the spray-forming process, the steel itself shows some excellent properties. For one, it contains very hard primary carbides, which together with the nitrogen from the spray process increase the wear resistance of the steel. […]
If asked to describe the perfect cleaning system for molds and tooling that would allow a significant reduction in labor hours and tooling damage while providing consistent cleaning results, it would meet the 10 criteria listed below. […]
There is an almost endless variety of resins, molds and processes available today, so there is no silver bullet that is effective against all the types of mold fouling and corrosion that attack molds, whether running or racked. An ice blasting cleaning system, however, is a very effective method. […]
P20, a 4130, 4135 modified material, has long been the steel of choice for pre-hardened mold steels. P20 is classified as a chrome-moly alloy, with a carbon content of approximately 0.30 to 0.40. Over time, many variations on basic P20 chemistry have been introduced to the marketplace. Each modification can have an effect on the [...]
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 [...]