From Design to First Shot: Technologies to Improve the Mold

The MoldMaking Technology staff has curated several useful technologies and services in the form of roundups to dive into what is new and improved. This is a great opportunity to stay informed on innovations just hitting the market or to discover a readily available equipment to benefit your moldmaking capabilities.

This month’s technology roundup features a variety of products services that could be the next innovation to benefit your moldmaking needs and take your shop to the next level.

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Thousandth Increment Pins Designed for Small Cavity, Core Inserts 

Progressive Components announces the recent expansion of its line of TI Pins, which now include 267 new standard sizes offered in new, longer lengths. Unlike stamping punches, which are sometimes used as core pins in molds, Progressive’s exclusive TI Pins feature heads that are precision ground to mold tolerances. 

 3D-Printed Hot Runner Nozzles Yield Consistent Temperature Profile

DMS combines selective laser melting (SLM) metal 3D printing, combined with artificial intelligence (AI), to produce its Monolith hot runner nozzles, tailored precisely to part and process specifications. According to the company, the innovation lies in the 3D-printed air spaces that provide insulation to the nozzles from the mold, ensuring a consistent temperature profile. 

Updated Catalog Gives Comprehensive Look at Cutting Tool Solutions

OSG USA, Inc. has released the latest edition of its Tooling Solutions Product Catalog in print and in digital versions. The 1700-page catalog edition includes more than 60 new list numbers of the company’s current cutting tool additions for automotive, aerospace, medical, and die and mold industries, to name a few.  

Compact Stack Mold for Thin-Wall Packaging

Hot runner manufacturer Oerlikon HRSflow has designed a patent-pending compact stack mold for thin-wall packaging applications. Designed to withstand high filling pressures for thin wall packaging applications, the system, which will be available soon, can be run on lower tonnage injection molding machines and is equipped with the company’s Xd nozzle series.

Compact Slides Provide Option for Difficult-to-Cool Locations in Molds

CUMSA USA introduces a new feature to its compact slides (part number CS) with a floating insert to target the challenges behind removing heat during the molding process. The enhanced mold component, the CR cooled compact slide, provides an option to include cooling systems for difficult-to-cool locations, eliminating the need for a high precision pocket. 

Gundrill Production Cells Boost Precision, Output

Unisig’s R-4-2-2 fully automated barrel cell provides continuous and synchronous production. The cell can reportedly gundrill four barrels at once, while two gundrilled barrels are precision reamed and two others receive the final step of button rifling at the same time.

Carbide Micro Drills Capture Precise Holemaking for Mold and Die Making Requirements

Walter USA has expanded its solid carbide micro drill line with the addition of the DB131 Suprem micro pilot drill sizes and extended the DB133 Supreme micro drill offering to deep drills up to 30 × Dc. These new drills are said to be critical to achieving maximum process reliability combined with minimal dimensional variations and extended tool life in steel, cast iron, nonferrous, super alloys, hard materials and other materials (ISO P, K, N, S, H and O). 

High-Efficiency Milling Excels in Specialized Parts Production

The GF Machining Solutions Mikron Mill E 500 U delivers highly competitive costs per part. The high-efficiency five-axis milling solution excels at efficient production of specialized parts in small to medium batches for the automotive, energy and power generation industries, as well as for general machining applications, including the production of mold components for mold builders.