A mold that was built some time ago shows up at the dock and there’s little known about it. Those in Sales are glad to get the tool in, but in manufacturing (i.e., “reality”) one may not yet be sure about what to make of it, let alone what can be gained from an older [...]
At first glance, the accompanying chart of steel prices tells a disturbing story. After hitting an all-time high in mid-2008, prices descended during the next year or so. During this period, the U.S. economy was suffering through a deep and prolonged recession, so it is not surprising that the price of steel would drop. [...]
Following are eight tips for reinventing your mold project:1. Get out of denial. If you’re going to survive, you must move to a conceptual business model, and that means making some hard choices. […]
A few months ago, I suggested that MoldMaking Technology sponsor an art exhibit comprised of molds and tooling. Moldmakers could present their work in pictures or as sculptures on a show floor. […]
The main challenge in dealing with any strategy for business growth is that it is interdependent with opportunities and being prepared to capitalize on them when they occur. Developing a global strategy will help a small business increase its opportunities; however, not many small businesses have time to use this concept to their advantage. They [...]
first-rate mold company plans to come out of the recent recession with numerous advantages for their customers in the injection mold and precision machining market segment. The advantages offered are a result of the company’s long-term commitment to automation technologies. […]
Cleaning molds is a key part of running a successful injection molding operation. There are two situations when mold cleaning is required: (1) offline when the mold is on the bench and is cold [room temperature] and (2) online when the mold is warm and still in the press.Because of temperature differences, the cleaning solvents [...]
The most important issue facing the mold and die industry in recent years is throughput. Throughput is the amount of work a shop can complete in a set amount of time. This idea of productivity has been under constant review with the pressure from overseas competition. To survive in the global market with shrinking leadtimes, [...]
While there are many suppliers of shrink fit chucks available, there are good and bad shrink fit chucks available. It is important to do research related to the selection of a toolholder for your particular application. […]
Plunge Milling Plunge milling has been around for a long time and can be the most consistent form of high metal removal, especially on older machines incapable of operating at high feedrates. This consistency is a result of efficient toolpaths, as there is little wasted tool motion when compared to more common methods of machining [...]