Non-contact 3-D laser scanning captures everything on the surface of the objects, including free-form shapes and fine details. The technology works by projecting a line of laser light onto a surface while cameras continuously triangulate the changing distance and profile of the laser line as it sweeps along. The laser line passes back and forth [...]
Industrial robotic automation is a manufacturing solution that becomes more mainstream each year. Robots can work 24 hours a day, seven days a week in dangerous and undesirable areas for human employees or in lights-out facilities. The idea of adopting robotics for industrial applications seems to have obvious value and is more common than most [...]
In order to be ultra-competitive in this difficult economy, another arrow in the quiver of toolmakers is high-performance copper, which can be employed instead of traditional all-steel tools. The use of high performance copper alloys in mold cores and cavities gives significant advantages over tool steels and aluminum alloys. […]
Two main factors should be considered when scanning molds: size and accuracy. […]
Over the years, and more times than can probably be counted, customers call from all over to order various surface treatments for their molds, without knowing what is truly needed to make their molds run better and more efficiently. It’s surprising how many customers are talked down on services because it’s not good business to [...]
Below is a list of the top six benefits of dry ice blasting for injection mold/molding professionals: 1. Reduce CostsMost cleaning practices today involve a multi-step process that requires production to completely stop, and frequently includes a number of people, a variety of cleaners and secondary waste disposal that adds costs to production. [...]
Moldmakers are constantly challenged by their customers to evaluate new technologies that can be integrated into their mold builds. Through reduced cycle times, shorter deliveries, lighter weight, better durability and corrosion resistance, moldmakers need to find new and different ways of improving the mold building process. With its nickel vapor deposition (NVD) technology, NVD technology [...]
Plating can be tricky. Everyone uses one form of plating or another, but do you know the true differences between types of plating and why one may be better than another for efficient, quality production? And what if welding is required? […]
There are two basic types of plating – electrolytic and electroless. Electrolytic plating requires electricity to make the process occur. There is a positive and negative charge. The positive is called the anode and the negative is the cathode. […]
Checking for Positive DraftOn occasion tool marks can be so deep that they reduce the draft or the polisher accidentally takes off the draft. The key is to always check for positive draft by putting a six-inch scale on the wall and comparing the angle it makes to the parting line. It takes just a [...]