Creating a perfect part begins with creating the perfect mould. Easier than it sounds.
Every project is unique and poses unique problems that needs to be solved. There are dozens of factors that our industrial engineers have to account for when creating the tooling and moulds to manufacture your products and parts.
Here are three of our top tips for ensuring a perfect part.
Material selection
Needless to say, tooling your mould perfectly is extremely important. Choosing the right steel for your mould is almost as important, and your choice of material can have a big impact on the finished product in many different ways!
Choosing the right steel is a complex decision that will be influenced by a number of different variables. What material are you moulding? What is your desired tool life or how many parts are you making per annum? What is your tooling budget?
The material that will be injected into the tool, it’s hardness and abrasiveness and if the material has any chemicals in it will all be factors in the wear and erosion resistance needed in the mould.
Of course, the warmer the injected material, the more you need to consider the thermal conductivity in the material you use to make your mould.
These are just some of the questions that will need to be answered before starting the process, all of which our talented industrial designers can walk you through!
Gates and vents
The size and placement of gates is integral for the filling and appearance of the finished product. Improper gates can also lead to defects and insufficient packing in the cavities, which is also known as a ”short shot”.
Vents allow air to escape the tool as it is being displaced by the injection moulding process. Vents that are too big can lead to flashing, where the plastic material escaped the tool. Too small, and the vents may not let enough air out, causing air and gas to be trapped in the parts produced.
This again can lead to improper fills, brittle final products or gas pockets that can combust and leave burn marks.
Ejecting parts
The final step of the plastic injection moulding process is ejecting the part from your mould. Once again, this is a surprisingly complex process that requires thorough planning and smart design.
Ejector systems need to take a number of things into consideration, including the geometry, material choices and any coating on the mould. Carefully calculating where to place ejector pins and how big they need to be based on the unique part being produced is an artform onto itself.
Our processes have been developed over 30 years, and our experience can help solve any manufacturing problem you are facing. If you would like to have a chat about injection moulding for your part, book a free consultation with us today!
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