Often, in order to decrease tooling costs, a long-established design approach is specified for several mold builders to quote, and the lowest bid wins. However, a different mindset could yield much greater savings not only at the mold build and initial production launch, but also over the lifetime of the tool. […]
One way to improve the success of molds being transferred is to offer sampling/tryout capabilities to your customers. Once you accept a tool transfer, […]
Some mold builders will elect to buy the hot runner components, machine the hot half plates and install the system themselves to save money. In these cases, there are two options available. […]
A key component in any hot runner system is the nozzle or drop. Nozzles fall into four main categories: torpedo, valve gate, edge gate and multi tip. Edge gate nozzles are used to gate on a part at 90 degrees to the parting line. There are two varieties of such nozzles. […]
market globalization has resulted in OEMs’ current strategy of launching new products on a global basis. In order to reduce costs and to guarantee high quality at all locations, the trend is for OEMs to separate the tooling from the injection molding, […]
Compression molding is a method of molding in which the molding material, generally preheated, is first placed in an open, heated mold cavity. […]
Global CompetitionLike it or not, we are all working, competing, buying and selling in a global market, and remarks made by industry regarding the unfair competition from countries with lower labor costs, favorable monetary exchange rates, tax benefits or other motivating factors are common. […]
So where are we today with the integration of copper alloys in mold building? There are still major opportunities and major contributions to be gained by companies that are willing to use these products. […]
Not wanting disappoint them right out of the gate, I threw out a standard rule of thumb used when pressed for max cycle counts: […]
Let me say first that stopping and pulling molds for scheduled PMs is a good maintenance practice … period … but unfortunately not always possible in every situation if you want to keep your customers happy and in parts. What? A mold maintenance evangelist saying that regularly scheduled PMs won’t make us more money by [...]