Can You Recommend Any Books on Mold Design and Manufacturing?

I was recently reminded why it is advantageous to initiate and maintain membership in industry organizations and that is the sharing of invaluable knowledge and expertise.

The other day, I was glancing over topics being actively addressed on the Society of Plastics Engineers’ (SPE) website, where community forums exist to provide members (both students and professionals) a means to network and support one another. It’s called The Chain, and I first blogged about it in 2016 when it was fairly new (find the blog here, for more details). The Chain is exclusive to SPE members and has two widely used forums: Leadership Lane and TechTalk. It was a TechTalk topic that caught my eye.

The point is that when you do not get involved in professional organizations like the SPE your world is exponentially smaller – even with the internet at your disposal.

A post by SPE member Tyler Bowen asked for help locating “modern books that cover the fundamentals and advanced principles of mold design and mold manufacturing generally, or for thermoplastic processes specifically,” because he wanted to “learn more about metals considerations and manufacturing methods and limitations.” What ensued was a lengthy chain of discussion among seven SPE members, each of whom enthusiastically recommended a variety of reading materials, including ISBN numbers, where to purchase the books and why they would be of benefit. One member went so far as to also offer additional technical resources as provided on some industry supplier websites. Ask and you shall receive!

The point is that when you do not get involved in professional organizations like the SPE your world is exponentially smaller – even with the internet at your disposal. Who hasn’t spent hours online trying to locate reliable, good data for use in school or at work, only to come up empty or feeling like there must be more? On The Chain, or similar forums, your fellow industry professionals, including perfect strangers, are ready and willing to lend a hand.

For those who are curious about what resource materials were recommended, read on.