Moldmakers are constantly challenged by their customers to evaluate new technologies that can be integrated into their mold builds. Through reduced cycle times, shorter deliveries, lighter weight, better durability and corrosion resistance,

Plating can be tricky. Everyone uses one form of plating or another, but do you know the true differences between types of plating and why one may be better than another for efficient, quality production? And what if welding is required?

There are two basic types of plating - electrolytic and electroless. Electrolytic plating requires electricity to make the process occur. There is a positive and negative charge. The positive is called the anode and the negative is the cathode.

Checking for Positive Draft
On occasion tool marks can be so deep that they reduce the draft or the polisher accidentally takes off the draft. The key is to always check for positive draft by putting a six-inch scale on the wall and comparing the angle it makes to the parting line. It takes just a second and that can save a lot of time and trouble.

One of the most difficult jobs for any polisher is getting a high diamond finish on aluminum. Achieving a good shine in soft gummy material that constantly clogs stones and easily takes deep scratches from sandpaper is enough to challenge anyone.

If you think of texturing as the paint on a finished car, you can then draw the comparison that the paint job is only as good as the bodywork beneath the paint. And so, texturing can be optimized by the quality of the surface to be textured.

When choosing plating for your mold or mold components, you must first identify the problem to be solved or the problem to be prevented.

  The origin of mold design and moldmaking in China is traceable to metal stamping die makers, rubber moldmakers and die cast die makers.