As economic conditions improve and global competition intensifies, mold manufacturers are flocking to cutting-edge machine technology to achieve maximum efficiency. However, while new machine technologies dominate popular interest, tooling sometimes remains on the backburner. […]
There are numerous factors to consider when purchasing a warranty program with your new EDM, let’s examine three important ones. […]
Hot runner valve gating is a technology that has been available for many years; however, until recently, there have only been two options for pin actuation: hydraulic or pneumatic. Both types of valve pin actuators come with their own advantages and disadvantages making the decision a matter of personal preference. […]
CAM software, as it relates to tool life, does two things: it controls the tool motion and the entry and exit of the workpiece material. The traditional way of driving machines using older algorithms have been superseded by newer tool motion using advanced algorithms—a technique that removes large amounts of material quickly using a dynamic [...]
Three terms define the business-success paradigm for today’s mold manufacturers and injection molders—particularly those who serve the automotive industry: quality, cycle time and cost. […]
Mold cleaning is required offline when the mold is on the bench and cold (room temperature); and, online when the mold is in the press and warm. Because of temperature differences, the cleaning solvents may have different degrees of effectiveness. Solvents that work well on the bench and evaporate at a convenient rate are usually [...]
Here we will discuss an approach for creating functional, high quality, 3-D elastomeric (rubber) parts for your product prototypes faster and easier than previously possible. This solution uses the capabilities of a 3-D printer, RTV (room temperature vulcanization) molding and casting, and a new CAD file manipulation tool that cuts hours to days out of [...]
Another reason micro hard milling is growing in popularity these days is that micro cutters are being offered in more expansive ranges of cutter reach lengths, provide longer cutting lives and generate near perfect surface finishes. And cutters are manufactured to exacting tolerances. For example, some cutting tool manufacturers hold diameter tolerances on their micro [...]
Many of today’s shops involved with micro machining are doing so on extremely hard metals, such as CPM (1-V, 3-V, 9-V) D2, A2 and F7 tool steels, along with hard powdered metals, all of which can be as hard, or harder than, 62-64 Rc. They also micro machine stainless steels like 450, 410, and 17-4 [...]
The tab gate —the most commonly used of the three—consists of a trapezoidal block milled into the parting line on an exterior surface of the part and is usually placed in a thicker wall section rather than thinner areas. Its position usually makes it easy to trim off, and while it typically leaves the largest [...]