Intelligent Equipment Solutions Alleviate Moldmaking Pain Points

Photo Credit (clockwise): Gunther Hot Runner Systems Inc., PCS Company, Globeius Inc. and Regal Components

As we continue to transition into 2024, keep yourself abreast of industry technology developments with this latest MoldMaking Technology roundup. The highlighted companies and pieces found below provide a brief glimpse into the intelligent products/services that are targeting mold and die applications. Editors also provide a look at software-specific products in the upcoming February 2024 issue (find all archived and recent digital issue versions here on the 1^st of each new month).

Never seen some of these before? We publish new or proven products/services on a daily basis, so browse our “New Tech” section on the homepage of our website, or find them via the website search bar for a more streamlined approach. Follow each title link for the full product post.

Click here for our most recent cutting tools roundup.

Cloud ERP Scheduling Feature Facilitates Accurate Quoting

Photo Credit: Cetec ERP

Cetec ERP, providing cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for manufacturers and distributors, has introduced a new scheduling feature that enables users to estimate static buffer time occurring before or after work is completed at a given work location.

Valve Gate Sequencer Gives More Exacting Moldfilling Control

Photo Credit: PCS Company

PCS Company introduces the Polimold Valve Gate Sequencer, a state-of-the-art system designed to provide injection molders with more exacting control of the moldfilling sequence during production when using valve gate hot runner systems.

According to the company, injection molds, large and small, can be more profitable by using the Polimold Valve Gate Sequencer, which enables the molding operator to control the opening and closing of the valve gate pins.

Precise, Surface-Level Cleaning Achieved Through Portable Laser

Rocklin Manufacturing introduces the MobiLase laser cleaner, a portable fiber laser cleaner housed in an all-in-one, 60-lb rolling suitcase. The 100-watt fiber laser rapidly removes rust, paint, oil, grease, dirt and more by cleaning the material or coating while not disrupting the part itself.

Digitized Localization Solution Precisely Pinpoints Injection Molds

Photo credit: Hasco

The Mould Track System, offered by Hasco, provides an intelligent solution with precise indoor localization to injection molding shops. As it is common for a company that has several injection molds to place some of those molds into storage after the production of a batch, knowing where exactly they are located could avoid production bottlenecks and optimize manufacturing processes.

Custom Mold Components for Close Tolerance Applications

Photo Credit: Regal Components

Custom core pins, sleeves, injector pins, blades and punches fabricated in distinctive shapes and sizes from various materials for critical applications are now available through Regal Components.

Rgal Special Mold & Die Components are precision machined from a variety of tool steel grades. They feature diameters as small as 0.002", lengths up to 14", with tolerances to ±0.000050" and surface finishes to 2 RMS.

3D Printing Tool Steels Reformulated for More Flexible, Less Brittle Filaments

Photo Credit: Markforged

Markforged’s newest versions of H13 tool steel and D2 tool steel ﬁlaments were developed to be used with its Metal X 3D fused filament fabrication (FFF) printing system and feature an updated binder that results in a signiﬁcantly more ﬂexible and less brittle ﬁlament. The additional materials are part of the company’s strategy to strengthen manufacturing resiliency by enabling industrial production at the point of need.

Dynamic Milling Machine Design Improved for Heavy Machining

With the FZU/FZP42 machine line, Zimmermann Inc. offers users efficient five-axis portal milling machines for heavy workpiece machining. The improved machines feature a thermo-symmetrical design and incorporate a centrally guided Z-slide, all of which increases machine stability and saves on weight — resulting in a more dynamic, productive and energy-efficient machine.

Photo Credit: Zimmerman

Temperature Control Unit, Hot Runner Heating Enhance Injection Molding Reliability

Photo Credit: Günther

Günther Hot Runner Systems Inc. presents its BlueFlow hot runner heating technology, which it describes as significantly slimmer, more powerful and more energy-efficient than predecessors. The company says the BlueFlow hot runner nozzle has faster thermal reactions and is well suited for processing high-temperature resins.

Free, Assisted Data Transfer for Injection Molding Monitoring and Control Platform

RJG is now offering a new data migration tool so users of its eDart injection molding process monitoring and control devices can transfer their data, including mold/process configurations and templates, to the company’s new CoPilot process control. To expedite the process. RJG can undertake the data transfer free of charge for a limited time on behalf of its customers.

An RJG spokesperson told sister publication Plastics Technology that the company can perform the migration remotely, further simplifying the task. The new data migration tool is part of a change being made to RJG’s networking platform, The Hub. The spokesperson said the eDart data will be transferred into The Hub and then disseminated to the individual CoPilots.

Heated Nippers Enable More Efficient Degating, Plastic Part Cutting

Photo Credit: Globeius Inc.

Globeius Inc., a provider of machinery, equipment and technical support to the North and South American plastics industry, now offers heavy-duty heated nippers from MouldPro that make degating and cutting plastic parts easier and more efficient. They also help reduce hand and wrist injuries amongst operators by making the degating process less strenuous.

AI Augments Injection Molding Process Control System

Photo Credit: RJG Inc.

RJG Inc. has announced a new feature for its CoPilot process control system called MAX, the process advisor. MAX uses advanced, AI technology powered by Master Molder techniques to provide molders with real-time, expert guidance to optimize their injection molding processes, including reducing waste during production and assisting in bridging the skills gap.

Intuitive Inspection Software Increases 3D Measurement Data Compatibility

With the release of its novel Zeiss Inspect 3D metrology software, Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions offers customers numerous new functions. Zeiss Inspect Optical 3D is a solution for the inspection and evaluation of any 3D measurement data (e.g., optical 3D data, volume data, image moving data). With this release, data acquisition is accelerated, and evaluation functions are further improved. The new Autosurfacing app also automatically converts scan data into a high-precision CAD model.