A common question among plastic injection mold makers is: “What is the best grinding wheel for tool steel?” Obviously, there are many variables that have a direct impact on the answer. Here are some user-friendly, experience-generated guidelines that will at least point the surface grinding toolmaker in the right direction. This article covers the type of grinding commonly found in …
Read More »Is Wire Cut EDM (WEDM) Useful In Plastic Injection Mold Making?
When CNC WEDM, or wire EDM, first became available as a viable machine tool, somewhere around 1976, the buzz was that it would never be applicable for injection moldmaking. The thinking was that mold cavities are blind, meaning that the shape is cut into the steel, not through it. Wire cut EDM and band saws Because the WEDM operates somewhat …
Read More »An Overview Of Surface Grinding In Injection Moldmaking
Precision surface grinding in plastic injection moldmaking is essential in order to produce high quality, high volume molds. Despite the fact that hard machining and WEDM have replaced grinding in many aspects, the need for accurate, detailed grinding remains. Consider that, from beginning to end, nearly every mold component must be ground. The list could include every plate in the …
Read More »Why Are So Few Women Working As Mold Makers?
I’ve been asked this a few times over the years, and when I stop and think about it, I’ve never actually seen a woman working as a mold maker. My answer: “Because very few women are interested.” Personally I have 3 daughters and I am here to tell you that they are not at all the least bit interested in …
Read More »Manufacturing & Operations
Productivity improvement, quality improvement, efficiency gains, stock reduction and innovation are all key to competitive supply, especially in shrinking global markets and the emergence of developing low cost economies. It is imperative that when you have a requirement within your production and manufacturing operations that you can find the best candidates that the market can yield. Our team of specialist …
Read More »Metronics Microfactory 3D Printing
A networked, easy to operate, affordable, mess free, quiet, safe desktop machine capable of: printing functional parts in four colors or multiple materials and computerized etching and computer-controlled milling!
Read More »Not Just Anybody Can Build An Injection Mold
Precision engineering is an engineering discipline which is a sub-discipline of electronics engineering, optical engineering, software engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. The discipline of precision engineering relates to the designing of machines, fixtures and other structures that possess tolerances on an exceptionally low level. This is where the precision is required to work at extremely low tolerance, and create …
Read More »Why Use Stainless Steel For Injection Molds
The many unique values provided by stainless steel make it a powerful candidate in materials selection. Engineers, specifiers and designers often underestimate or overlook these values because of what is viewed as the higher initial cost of stainless steel. However, over the total life of a project, stainless is often the best value option. Continue reading….
Read More »Injection Molding/Mold Making In Mexico
After spending two rather intense weeks working in central Mexico with a major US plastics corporation I came away with a few observations regarding the current status of plastic injection mold making/molding industry in this delightful country. Ironically, my wife and I were channel surfing in our hotel room and ended up watching a movie called “Bordertown”, with Jennifer Lopez …
Read More »The Advantages Of Indexable Carbide Insert Cutters
In the fiercely competitive business of plastic injection mold making sometimes small changes can bring big rewards. One example of this is through the proper selection of carbide cutting tools. Carbide suppliers are continually developing improved cutters, both solid and indexable. Faster cutting speeds, higher metal removal rates, better surface finishes, longer tool life, decreasing cutter costs and ease of …
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