There are many benefits to working with an ISO Registered mold making facility, including quality product and cost savings to the buyer. ISO quality standards are recognized internationally as the set of quality standards for various industries worldwide to measure performance in their processes, which encompasses all business processes whether they be service or production related. Most suppliers to the Automotive industry must be registered to either ISO9001 or ISO/TS16949, providing uniform measurements to rate suppliers in a global economy.
Globally recognized quality standards give Automakers around the globe consistent quality procedures and standards to measure the performance of their suppliers, in quality and service. This makes the job of the purchasing agent more streamlined in choosing suppliers, and takes some of the burden off when qualifying suppliers to their supply chain. Most suppliers, even 2nd and 3rd tier suppliers, must be registered to ISO standards and provide a Certificate of Conformance. This gives peace of mind to Automakers around the world that their suppliers are adhering to their Quality Policy and performing continual improvement in all processes to remain competitive. Continual improvement projects that focus on increased cycle times, or reduced purchasing costs can be passed on to the Automotive customer, providing even more value as an ISO registered mold shop. Michiana Global Mold is an ISO Registered mold making shop, practicing continual improvement with top down management. We combine the latest in technology with our vast experience to provide the best options for injection molds, beginning with a detailed and thorough injection mold design. Our design engineers are the best in the business, with extensive experience using our CAD/CAM software and equipment. Our journeymen mold makers are accustomed to constructing complex injection molds for high volume, custom injection molding. We build the challenging tools that other mold makers shy away from. Michiana Global Mold is experienced with all types of molds, including insert cavities, cold and hot runner tools, shuttle molds, three-plate tools and any other mold type required. We meet tight tolerances and even tighter deadlines with quality injection molds, built right the first time. We provide sample parts and reports, and all required tool status reports. Michiana Global Mold offers discounts with our off-shore injection mold making partner, rebate programs for high-volume tool requirements, and FREE design consultations. Contact Michiana Global Mold today to speak with one of our skilled mold designers and learn how we can assist you with your next injection mold making project. We are an ISO9001:2015 Registered mold making facility with vast experience building custom, precision injection molds for demanding industries including Automotive.
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Injection molders today are using sophisticated, automated equipment aimed at molding high quality products with lean processes. Automated auxiliary equipment is used to provide consistency in a process while reducing cycle times. Each injection molder’s shop environment is different, and some equipment must be custom designed to work together.
An injection mold designer must be aware of the molding environment in which the mold will run, which includes the type of press, any auxiliary equipment used in the molding process and the location of tie bars and cooling lines. This information is vital to a proper mold design to ensure that nothing will interfere with installation or operation of the mold. Some Automated equipment that injection molders use are vacuum conveying systems, sprue pickers, robotic arms and conveyors, computerized quality inspection and rejection procedures, and automated packing procedures. As any molder knows, reducing cycle time provides cost saving efficiencies that equate to increased profits to the bottom line. Be sure to share with your mold designer any custom design requirements unique to your molding situation. Michiana Global Mold is experienced with the most challenging of mold designs requiring tight geometric tolerances with critical dimensions. We construct molds used for any environment, with custom designed solutions provided with Unigraphics CAD/CAM Software, and Mold Flow Analysis if required. We are an ISO Registered mold making facility following a strict quality policy in all aspects of injection mold design and construction. Michiana Global Mold has been a valuable supplier to many supply chains including to the Automotive industry for over 50 years. We employ a highly knowledgeable and experienced staff, with skilled designers and journeyman mold makers. Michiana Global Mold has in-depth knowledge designing and manufacturing injection molds that meet tight geometric tolerances. Contact us today for a FREE design consultation and to learn how we can assist with all of your injection mold requirements. Thermoplastic engineering resins are the most common type of plastic resins used in the injection molding process. With many different types of plastic resins each with their own unique properties, it takes great care and consideration to properly design and construct a mold for use with thermoplastic resins. These highly useful polymer resins have varying properties of elasticity, resistance to temperature, corrosives, shrinkage and right down to the exterior finish such as a matte or a glossy finish.
Shrink rate is a very important property of thermoplastic engineering resins used in injection molding, as the cavities must be carved out to accommodate to this shrink rate. If shrink rate is not accounted for properly, a part may shrink too much after cooling and deviate from customer requirements. Knowing the cooling and shrink rate of the polymer resin used for any molding process is of the utmost important to the journeymen mold makers constructing the tool. Cooling rate is also important for the part to become completely solidified prior to ejection. Cooling rate must be configured into the injection molding cycle time, to ensure proper cooling and ejection without damaging the part. Each polymer resin will have a MSD sheet, Material Safety Data sheet along with material specifications clearly defined in each numbered lot of all thermoplastic resins. If working with a new material, a mold designer may prefer to use Mold Flow Analysis, for a computer simulated demonstration of how the plastic material will melt, flow and fill. Predicting the flow of thermoplastic resins prior to cutting steel is vital for accurate geometrical tolerances in the final product. Even with a material spec sheet which is necessary, nothing helps a skilled mold designer more than experience. Skilled mold design engineers are very familiar with the various properties of engineering resins allowing for precise mold construction with even the most specialty of molding resins. Michiana Global Mold is an experienced mold design and construction company, with vast experience with various thermoplastic resins used in injection molding. We employ highly skilled journeymen mold makers and expert design engineers to satisfy even the most demanding of customer requirements. We tackle the complex mold designs that other companies shy away from. For complex, precision molds that must meet tight tolerances, contact Michiana Global Mold today for superior mold design and mold making services. Contact Michiana Global Mold today to speak with one of our skilled mold designers and learn how we can assist you with your next injection mold making project. We are an ISO9001:2015 Registered mold making company with vast experience constructing custom, precision injection molds using various thermoplastic engineering resins. When an injection mold designer begins a development of the mold design, they must be aware of the environment in which the mold will run. This includes the size and type of press the mold will run in, the material used for molding, and any auxiliary equipment used for automation as the location of tie bars and cooling lines must not interfere with setting and running the mold.
Vacuum Conveying System A vacuum conveying system is an automated way to get the material into the press, with the right suction and force. Vacuum conveying systems suck the material while still in pellet from the gaylord or drum into the hopper of the press, providing a steady flow of material for continuous production. Vacuum conveying systems pull in a steady flow of material, and control the amount of material in flow to the press, and are also helpful with controlling the moisture content in the material. Sprue Pickers Aid Automation Sprue pickers are robotic arms that reach into the press and grab the runner when the mold ejects, instantly separating from it the parts which can then fall into a bucket or onto a conveyor belt. Some robotic sprue pickers reach in and pick up the runner then drop it either into a separate bin, or directly into a grinder where it can be ground up and reused as regrind material. Process Monitoring Injection molders use process monitoring systems to constantly monitor the press settings such as temperature and pressure, alerting an operator if the job begins to run out of specification. Some monitoring systems also provide material resource planning functions, tracking job due dates and material inventory for scheduling of jobs. All of the additional auxiliary equipment must function properly and work in conjunction with the mold when it opens and closes and operates on the tie bar. Michiana Global Mold has vast experience designing and manufacturing molds adhering to customer specifications and each unique environment. Contact us today for a FREE design consultation and to learn how we can assist. Production injection molds are used to mass produce plastic injection molded parts. Injection molding is the producing of specially designed plastic parts by injecting with pressure and clamp force, plastic in a molten state into cavities carved out in a steel mold where the plastic will harden and set to the shape of the mold, thus producing the part.
Injection mold makers sometimes produce a prototype tool to test out a part design and function prior to manufacturing full production requirements. Production molds are used for long term production requirements. A prototype tool is used only for short runs to produce sample parts for testing and will not support full production. With proper planning and mold design, a custom mold maker will design and manufacture a production mold that will meet all product specifications and geometric dimensions. Some of these dimensions must be met with the tightest of tolerances as close as .001”, or about the width of a human hair. Carving out the cavities of a steel mold to produce a plastic part within these tight tolerances is no easy task, especially when taking into consideration the properties of the thermoplastic resin including cooling and shrink rate, which can have a great effect on the final dimensions of the part after solidifying. If a change is required of a production mold, skilled mold makers can perform what is called an “engineering change” to alter a dimension or tolerance within a part. If the change is feasible just by altering some dimensions in the steel, mold makers can simply adjust some dimensions in the current tool and avoid the need of constructing a new mold altogether. Skilled and experienced mold makers will utilize advanced quality product planning procedures to ensure that the constructed production mold will produce parts to spec the first time, planning ahead for critical fill areas and ensuring parts to print. Michiana Global Mold is an experienced full-service tool and die shop, constructing high performing injection molds with quality steel. We are an ISO registered mold making facility, applying our strict quality policies in all processes. Contact us today for a FREE design consultation and to see how we can assist with your next injection mold production requirements. The most common type of polymer used in injection molding is thermoplastic resins. There are many different types of resins with various properties to meet part specifications for functionality. When designing injection molds, the engineer must take into consideration all properties of the resin specified for the produce including adhesion, elasticity, resistance to high temperatures, shrink rate, resistance to corrosives, and desired finish whether matte or polished.
The cooling and shrink rate are of the utmost importance, as some parts with a high shrink rate will need the cavity designed accordingly so the finished product will cool and shrink within specifications. Cooling rate is also important for ejection, as the resin must completely solidify prior to mold ejection. When an injection molded part has a critical functionality, mold flow analysis may be helpful in determining resin flow into tight geometric areas. Mold flow analysis clearly shows with computer aided simulation how the resin will flow as determined from its properties. Predicting how thermoplastic resin will flow in the mold and cavities prior to cutting steel can be a valuable tool in avoiding costly mistakes. Conducting the proper advanced quality planning with mold flow analysis can greatly improve lead times. Most journeyman mold makers will already possess the knowledge of hos particular resins flow just from experience. A skilled design engineer with experience in manufacturing molds will have the knowledge to design the tool to produce a part to print specifications, with the chosen resin properties playing a huge role in tool design. At Michiana Global Mold, we have been providing high quality precision molds for over 60 years, possessing more than 500 years of combined experience. Our staff of highly skilled design engineers and journeymen mold makers are the best in the business with vast experience in various thermoplastic resins. Contact Michiana Global Mold today to speak with one of our skilled and experienced mold designers to learn how we can assist you with your injection mold requirement. We are an ISO9001:2015 Registered mold making company with vast experience constructing custom, precision injection molds for various industries. Quick response and flexibility are required of tool and die makers today. Mold makers must continually strive to reduce production time while still ensuring a high level of quality, and all while providing cost reductions. With tight margins and high demand for quick turn-around, tool and die makers may be searching for the best manufacturing method to remain competitive.
Using an EDM machine (electrical discharge machine) along with a high-speed milling machine may provide assistance with on-time delivery. Certain manufacturing needs in a tool and die shop may require differing manufacturing methods. The design engineer should be aware of all available manufacturing technologies. Mold Manufacturing Products Require Differing Technologies Injection molds and diecast molds, forging dies, and deep drawing dies are the three main products of tool and die making. Deep drawing dies mean that the metal blank is drawn into a forming die with a punch. The drawing is considered to be deep drawing when the depth of the drawn part is greater than the part diameter. They all possess their own constraints regarding applicable technologies for mold production. Deep drawing dies have flat structures and materials that are best manufactured with milling. When producing forging dies, EDM is widely used due to the strength of materials used in production. Complete machining with milling is possible, however, with low depth and large concave radii. Milling diecast and injection molds is challenging due to ribs or webs, and small radii. Developing the combination of EDM and milling is necessary for economical mold production meeting tight tolerances. Utilizing the benefits of all production methods gives designers and mold manufactures options in mold manufacturing. Other considerations in deciding between EDM or HSM are high speed milling, the geometric constraints, and surface quality or subsurface damage of a tool. Of the utmost importance is the effect on the surface from either EDM or HSM, as related to the part specifications. Some parts may require a surface conducive to adhesion from certain coatings or lacquers, and the finish of the tool plays an important role in the surface finish of the molded part. Employing skilled design engineers and journeyman mold makers, we have the experience to utilize the latest technology with a full line up of modern EDM and high-speed milling centers. This gives the most benefit to our customers in providing the most efficient, and cost effect mold manufacturing, with high quality tools and on time delivery. Michiana Global Mold is an experienced mold designer and manufacturer, supplying high performing precision injection molds since 1952. We are an ISO registered mold shop, adhering all processes to our strict quality policy, ensuring total customer satisfaction. Michiana Global Mold is experienced in all aspects of tool and die making, including injection molds and brass forging dies. Contact us today for a free design consultation, and learn how to save up to 40% on your next injection mold requirements. A preventive mold maintenance program is a big part of the mold manufacturing process. Right in line with the motto from MoldMaking Technology which is engineer, build and then maintain. Some TLC can go a long way to prevent molding dilemmas.
When using cleaning solvents on a mold, care must be taken to know how the chemical will react with heat. Some cleaning solvents will react differently at different temperatures, and heat will either help or hurt the situation. Some cleaners are used to primarily dissolve grease, oil sometimes rust. A mold polishing compound can be used when polishing the tool is necessary, and some cleaners are used to remove mold release build up even while the mold is still hot in the press. Mold makers are well familiar with the benefits of polishing and maintaining a tool. It takes a quality tool to mold a quality part. The proper method for cleaning the mold can determine the quality of the part. A consistent preventive maintenance program including a thorough mold cleaning is necessary in high-volume production jobs. Preventive Mold Maintenance Program A preventive mold maintenance program is utilized by molders to maintain consistent, quality molded product during injection molding production. This is often achieved with a process monitoring system keeping track of cycle counts. Certain job may require a preventive mold cleaning at particular intervals depending on the material used, and the molding environment. Upon reaching a set number of cycles, the molding job can be stopped and the mold pulled for routine maintenance. Be sure to use the right type of mold cleaner for your environment. Michiana Global mold is an experienced precision injection mold maker, with skilled journeymen mold makers well familiar with the best practices for mold maintenance. Michiana Global Mold has vast experience with engineering, constructing, and maintaining the highest of quality injection molds. Contact us today for a free cost estimate of your next injection mold making project. When constructing plastic or rubber injection molds, in addition to the part design the molding environment that the tool will run in is of the utmost importance. A mold designer must be aware of the injection molding process that the tool is designed for, the press it will run in including the clamping system and whether or not it is a vertical or horizontal clamping press. Each injection molding press will have a particular clamping pressure that is either delivered in an electric or hydraulic system. Some molders prefer to use all hydraulic presses, while some have a mix of hydraulic and electric, while other molders use only electric machines. There are some benefits to both, but the mold designer must be well aware of the power and pressure utilized in the press of choice prior to designing and constructing the injection molds. A mold designer, and mold builder will need to know the tonnage of the press, the clamping orientation and clamping pressure whether it is electric or hydraulic, and they will also need to know the barrel capacity of the press. This will determine how much material will be able to flow into the mold, and based on cycle times and cavitation, will determine whether or not the tool is designed to meet projected production volume requirements. Each injection molding press will also have a certain type of mounting system to secure the mold in the press. A toe-clamping system is most common, although a skilled mold designer can adapt the tool to fit even a custom designed mounting system. The platen must be large enough to hold the mold but it must also allow enough room to pass through the tie-bars when loading or unloading the mold. The tie bars hold the mounting platens in place which securely hold the mold in the press, and also contain the ejection system allowing opening and closing of the mold. Michiana Global Mold has vast experience designing complex, precision molds for various industries, meeting all requirements of our customers molding environment. We are valuable addition to any supply chain, providing proven solutions with high performing quality steel molds. Contact us today for a free design consultation, and to learn more about our discount and rebate programs. Choosing the right injection mold supplier for your project is an important decision. Every injection molding project begins with a quality constructed injection mold. You need to choose a supplier that can handle your project, no matter the complexity or precision tooling required. At Michiana Global Mold, we are experienced in constructing quality precision molds, taking into account all necessary design considerations from the beginning resulting in a perfect mold for your application. Michiana Global Mold employs expert mold designers, utilizing the latest in technological advancements with CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Manufacturing) Software. Download our FREE Book on Design Considerations for Various Molds. Michiana Global Mold will partner with your business from the beginning, providing you with options that will give you the best value for your mold construction project. We use CAD/CAM along with mold flow analysis when necessary, to pinpoint any critical dimensions before cutting steel. We have full in-house design capabilities with expert experience in all facets of design construction and machining. We can construct fully functional molds, mold inserts, over molds for insert molding, mold compositions, and adaptations including engineering changes. We have the skill and experience to produce best in class automotive injection molds, satisfying even the most stringent of quality requirements. As an ISO Registered tool shop, we are familiar with following documented guidelines, providing excellent workmanship to meet precision tolerances. We will identify problem areas before they would become a problem. Our staff includes journeyman moldmakers that have vast experience with tool construction for a wide array of industries. We have the knowledge required to provide precise, technical tools for various applications including those required in the automotive industry, consumer electronics, medical, and military / ordnance requirements. Contact Michiana Global Mold today to learn how our vast experience, knowledge, and technical capabilities will add value to your supply chain. We partner with our customers from the beginning, providing quality, precision molds for a wide array of applications over various industries. Michiana Global Mold is an ISO Registered injection mold construction supplier, providing quality class A steel molds since 1952. |
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