Tools shops are looking for three things from their steel suppliers—steel that is inexpensive, good quality and can be delivered fast. The problem is that you rarely get all three of these needs filled at the same time. So what is the most important of the three? […]
When using standard, off-the-shelf slides, there is no question that the leadtime on a project can be reduced. The time that would have been spent squaring up blocks, machining, heat treating and grinding all of the slide components can be used to focus on the molding area—cores, cavities, slide faces, etc. […]
As mold manufacturing in China has become more globally competitive, the necessity to reduce expensive, labor-intensive practices has become paramount for shop owners. The goal for most shops is to reduce or completely eliminate polishing or spotting time on their molds, which can be accomplished through the use of sinker EDMs, hard milling of steel [...]
We all know that EDM setup can be extremely time-consuming. Automating the setup process can save valuable time, especially when considering that some tools (especially those with multiple cavities) require dozens or even hundreds of electrodes. […]
Most mold and die shops rely on three-axis machines to do most of their milling work. Five-axis machines were not considered sturdy enough to mill hard materials used in Class 1 mold cavities. Moreover, five-axis programming was harder to learn and program. In general, these statements remain true. […]
Blow molds and many prototype molds are made from aluminum. Aluminum is a very soft material and requires special polishing procedures. A fine finish can be achieved, although it may never be as fine as the finish that is possible on steel. The following is a basic polishing procedure for aluminum. In time and with [...]
A popular practice of moldmakers and injection molders is to coat mold components as an attempt to increase the durability and achieve longer life while reducing maintenance and operational costs. This practice is certainly plausible, as it often falls short of providing the expected results and reduces the potential for maximum cost savings. [...]
In a well-established industry like moldmaking, the idea of innovation is a bit like the weather – everyone talks about it, but no one seems to be able to do anything about it. Steven , President and CEO of First-rate mold solution co, ltd., is an exception to that rule. First-rate mold solution co, ltd [...]
Today’s automation cells allow for one part or multiple parts to be run and will provide unattended operation, opening up valuable resources and saving costs. Mold manufacturers can use a common interface/fixture to accomplish one part loading of electrodes and molds versus using a different set-up for each new part run. With a properly designed [...]
A quality hot runner system is critical to the injection molding of consistent, high quality parts. One of the most important performance aspects of a hot runner system is its temperature uniformity. The temperature should be consistent across the hot runner system and should not vary with time. Even slight variations in temperature can have [...]