Tooling Know-How

Mold Maintenance

TOOLING: Repairing Molds in the Press: Part 3

This is the final part of a series on tooling in the press. This column will cover repairs that can be accomplished in the press.

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best practices

TOOLING: Designing Molds for Easy Cleaning & Maintenance in the Press

Pay attention to water leaks and rust, proper grease selection, vent buildup, and checks for wear.

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best practices

TOOLING: Designing Molds for Easy Maintenance in the Press, Part 1

Attention to design of cooling, ejection, and slides can save downtime and maintenance headaches.

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Tooling Know-How

TOOLING: Dealing with Lifters--Part 2

This installment delves into more detail on some variables of design and fitting/timing of the lifters, which can cause issues or failures during molding.

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TOOLING: Having Trouble with Lifters?

Lifters can cause tool maintenance, repair, and processing issues if not designed properly. Here we begin a series on how to avoid all this.

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TOOLING: How to Vent Mold Details

Principles to follow in venting bosses, ribs, pins, cores, slides, and lifters.

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Molds & Tooling

TOOLING: Venting: Where And How Deep?

After last month’s introduction to the subject, let’s get into the details on vent depths, land lengths, and the alternatives to perimeter venting.

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TOOLING: Venting: A View From the Trenches

Venting is a prime culprit for molding problems, partly because toolmakers and process techs have different ideas of what’s needed.

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Molds & Tooling

TOOLING: Clearing Up the Mysteries Of Mold Texture

It’s a subject not widely understood by molders and it affects more than just part appearance.

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processing tips

TOOLING: What You Can Do About Mold Buildup

It depends on the materials and additives you use, and the kinds of mold detail, but adequate venting, not overheating the material, and mold coatings are your best defenses.

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Blending & Dosing
Process Cooling
Plastics Size Reduction