Global Polytec Ltd.,Part.

Posts Tagged ‘Moulds’

Question by areena666: What is the easiest and cheapest way to get tooling or moulds made for a short run production?
Our concept design for a new cap closure is nearly finished and we will soon have a few functioning prototypes shortly. However before we go into mass production we feel it will be best to pilot or market test our products to a group of people, our friends and also potential clients.

In order to do this I have been told it may be possible to go to a plastic injection firm and request a short run production..lets say 1000 – 5000 samples

However tooling may be needed….. soft tooling or hard steel tooling..
We are UK based and i have also been advised of not considering China as it is not exactly on our door step if something goes wrong..

Please advise:)

good point..i think i need to rephrase my question…

i have been told nowadays that any form of tooling or moulds can be built but the costs can raise from 1000 up to 100 000……

cheapest – by this i mean cost effective…it is only for samples etc not for mass production

so this for example could be a soft tool, like aluminium,

easiest – i mean by this, maybe there could be a a method I am not aware of…..a simple solution….

Best answer:

Answer by onebear469
why do u think the easiest way would be the cheapist?

What do you think? Answer below!

Presentation video of BrioMoulds, an Italian Company with a Worldwide Reputation. BrioMoulds specialises in the planning and manufacturing of die casting moulds for aluminium, zama, magnesium and plastic injection.
Video Rating: 3 / 5

How do Injection Moulds Work?

An injection mould is the key to creating a successful one-piece finished plastic or metal component. Melted material is forced from the injection moulding machine into the mould (which is usually cool) where it sets. The result is a solid piece of the material which may be a component to, or the whole of, a finished product.

The mould is created by skilled technicians called Toolmakers who usually shape the mould according to the specifications of a 3D computer-generated model, which in turn has been created from the specifications of the product designer.

Injection moulds, or dies, have two halves that, when combined, create a whole that contains a hollow. It is into this hollow that the hot plastic or metal is injected and cooled, resulting in an exact physical copy of the 3D model. The two halves are commonly referred to as the mould core and mould cavity. The mould core corresponds to the inside surface area of the finished product, whereas the mould cavity corresponds to the outside surface area. The line which divides the two halves of the mould is called the parting line. This must be carefully chosen and designed around so as to allow the mould to separate properly. Serious damage can be caused if the mould contains an undercut or overcut, caused by a protruding portion of the mould which snags on the mould core or mould cavity respectively. There are countless ways to work around these design limitations.

An injection mould may seem a simple tool, but the complexity of the modern injection mould goes way beyond putting two hollows together to create a whole. Injection moulds are highly advanced pieces of technology. Once programmed, they are able to run autonomously day in and day out without any assistance. Moulds are set up with their own feeding system for the raw plastic and temperature control system to measure with precision exactly how the material is maintained — heated for injection and cooled for setting. They contain ejector systems to release the parts once they are complete. All of these systems reduce the need for personnel and can be left to run overnight, reducing costs dramatically.

As with any product, the quality of the mould and materials used dictates the quality and consistency of the parts that they will produce. Sundry plastic items like free coat hangers from department stores or DVD cases will be relatively cheaply produced as they will be made by the thousands, the quality of materials will not be considered a worthwhile investment and the variance in consistency will be negligible. For more consumer-attractive products, such as the dashboard for a limited edition car, the manufacturers will be certain that the plastic is of a high quality to ensure consistency and quality in their product.

Plastic injections moulds are based on a basic idea that has been refined to an art. Adaptable and so often used, the products created in injections moulds are all around us.