Quality. This one word sums up the need for having a defined mold maintenance program. Quality parts come from quality molds. But just like anything that is used as a tool, wear and degradation are part of the process. Having a maintenance program is an investment in...
In this article on ptonline.com, Randy writes about his journey of learning about venting, and uses some real world examples of how they addressed issues in the plant. Randy is a true "hands-on" injection molding professional, and his insight into may of the...
View image | gettyimages.com One of the challenges for injection molders is efficiency. The cycle times for plastic parts can range from 30 seconds to more than a minute. One of the primary contributors to that time and one of the longstanding constraints is cooling...
Randy Kerkstra wrote a great article at MoldMaking Technology on the topic of venting of mold components. He addresses the idea that venting of mold components, actions and part details are often not addressed as potential root causes of erosion, part quality issues...
In today’s ever-increasing competitive environment, the ability to produce parts profitably is harder and harder. One of the areas that many molders have looked towards to save time and costs is the concept of Rapid Injection Molding. One area that can make this idea...
Lean Manufacturing is often associated with a focus on cost reduction. However, through the implementation of lean manufacturing processes, many injection molders also realize reduced lead times, improved on-time delivery scores, and an increase in overall customer...
There is a direct correlation between having a well planned and managed mold maintenance and preventative maintenance program and realizing maximum value from your tooling investments. With the expectation that each and every part must be perfect, and that production...
Rapid Injection Molding, or RIM has really changed the plastic injection molding industry. By offering lower production quantities and quicker turnaround times, it has allowed many products to be molded versus other manufacturing methods. One of the benefits of RIM is...
Optimizing The Molding Process The use of Scientific Molding has had a dramatic impact on the efficiency of molding operations. The following 6 steps should be considered to help optimize the process robustness of your molding operation. Viscosity Curve The scientific...
Taking Injection Molding To The Next Level When an industrial science approach is applied to the molding process, it takes injection molding to a higher level of precision and more importantly, repeatability. It is especially relevant and applicable for complex and...
In this article from Plastics Today, a DuPont sponsored survey indicated that "lightweighting and use of lightweight structural materials will be the key enabler in realizing 2017-2025 CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards." "In terms of lightweighting...
Plastic injection molding pressures are classified based on the clamping pressure that the molding presses exert. This is the reason why it's important to check the size of the press, which is often referred to as the tonnage. The clamping pressure exerted by the...
"Design teams are always trying to come up with something better—better shapes and designs, better performance, better materials, and lower costs. They are constantly seeking something that will give them an edge over the competition." But being creative is harder...
Discussing the Design for Manufacturability Getting together with your injection molding team during the earliest design stages to discuss design for manufacturability (DFM) is an important practice, points out a great article from Kaysun Corporation. The up-front...
Cold Runner Vs. Hot Runner Molding Systems Why should you choose a hot-runner mold system over a cold-runner mold system (or vice versa)? Each type of molding system has unique features that help determine exactly which one is best for you. Cold-Runner Mold Systems...
From Kaysun Corporation, a great piece on the injection molding process: Injection molding is a dynamic, complex process that requires testing and usually some adjustments to get it to perfection. It's not an exact science, but some manufacturers focus on the...
When you're buying molded parts made from different types of plastics, it's crucial you know about some of parts defects that can lower the quality of the molded plastic parts. If you know the sources of the defects and flaws they can cause, you can work in...
"In a manufacturing firm, revenue is generated and costs incurred through the performance of activities." This article from Industry Week argues that it's important to analyze the cost of each activity - to trace the cost of specific activities in the value stream....
Ever wonder what it takes to mold complex parts? Well, that's the topic that Ken Glassen covers in one of his most recent injection molding blog posts. There's no doubt that the higher the complexity, the higher the skill-level required from the injection molder, but...
This article by Empire Precision covers 10 of the basic cost factors of an injection mold. Good read. It's an important reminder that the total cost of an injection mold includes two main parts: the initial cost on the quote and the residual costs. It's those residual...
