Injection molders quote or estimate a job based on six primary factors: part weight, material cost, machine size, cycle time, labor requirements and packaging. The material and packaging costs are relatively easy to obtain from suppliers, which makes them fixed values—not estimates. Thanks to solid modeling software programs, part weight is also a fixed value, [...]
The most frequently used component of a mold’s ejection system is the ejector pin, which includes variations such as sleeves and blades. Part size, draft angle, shape complexity, vertical wall height and the type of plastic being molded all contribute to determining the appropriate pin type, location and quantity. Due to extensive use, ejector pins [...]
Pricing is a critical step in the mold building process that does not get the attention that it deserves. Shops use several methods, and some are more effective than others. A solid understanding of the proper way to price molds can increase revenue and profits and improve customer relations and forecasting. While no magical solution [...]
Many manufacturers are concerned with reducing their energy consumption — some due to environmental concerns and others because saving energy means saving money, which goes directly to the bottom line. For example, if your profit margin is 10% and you generate 3% savings, that equals a 30% increase in sales volume. In other words, saving [...]
The main methods for creating designs are solid modeling and surface modeling. Surface modeling was the earliest form of CAD. It is based on shaping surfaces by pulling, bending, twisting and stretching them until the required shape is created. The surfaces can be joined together to enclose a volume and so represent complete objects. Solid [...]
Two-color molding may also be referred to as 2-shot molding, bi-injection molding, co-injection molding, or multi-shot injection molding, which produces a part with two different colors and/or materials in a single operation. A two-color mold is able to combine two resins with different characteristics and colors into a single two-color product, which reduces the assembly [...]
Too often, mold builders tasked with delivering a complete, production-ready hot runner mold work in haste to design the mold and system. They look online and order what they believe is needed but realize too late that the various components won’t fit or work together as expected. If decisions are rushed or poorly informed, the [...]
Explanation of car lamp mold design Car headlight reflector (also known as mirror) is a part of car headlight illumination system that reflects function to avoid direct light. It is located inside lens and decorative frame, assembled with lens. Lens can be seen from outside of lamp through lens. Plastic parts are appearance parts, surface [...]
Actually we knew at the core issues associated with the common practice of conventional (±) tolerancing, including origins of measurement, repeatability of sizes and centers, orientation and angles and tolerance accumulation. Here, we will address these issues using the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing standard (ASME Y14.5 GD&T). Geometric Dimensioning and [...]
As a decision-maker in the manufacturing sector, you are familiar with (if not a devotee of) Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence and similar continuous improvement approaches. One of the essential takeaways from continuous improvement technologies is that you need meaningful data to make decisions. For example, suppose you are like most mold manufacturers and rely [...]