Published 10/9/2023

Moldmaking-Related Technology Highlights

This month’s tech roundup highlights mold materials and other miscellaneous technologies for moldmaking needs.

Katie Leesemann, Former Editorial Assistant, Gardner Business Media

Mold Materials

Photo Credit: Alimex Precision in Aluminum

Cast Plate Aluminum Alloy is Suitable for Production Mold and Dies

Alimex ACP7 from Alimex Precision in Aluminum Inc. is a cast aluminum alloy from the 7000 series that is quickly gaining popularity among North American moldmakers. In the past, aluminum tooling was only used for testing and building prototypes, typically producing 50 to 1,000 parts. Today, especially with the 7000 series aluminum, it is used in production dies for 50,000 to 100,000+ shots

Photo Credit: Steel 21

Micro-Milled Steel Plate Cuts Mold Build Times by 10-15%

Steel 21 is an A36 and 4140 steel plate manufacturer located in Cedar Springs, Michigan offering “ground” plate steel that holds tolerances that are said to be three times flatter and five times smoother with the company’s patented “21 Micro Milling” process. Moreover, as a result, Steel 21 says customer build times are reduced by 10-15%.

Miscellaneous

Solid End Mills are Suitable for Heavy-Duty Roughing Steel, Stainless Steel

Photo Credit: Sandvik Coromant

Sandvik Coromant is expanding its offering of CoroMill Plura HD solid end mills for heavy-duty roughing in steel and stainless steel with two new grades. This new generation of grades features the Zertivo 2.0 coating, which combines high productivity with an exceptional metal removal rate and high process security.

Photo Credit: Walter USA

Solid Carbide Drill Designed with Mold Machining in Mind

Walter USA is launching a new tool, the X·treme Evo Plus drill, in the DC180 Supreme product range. Designed to boost productivity and process reliability in mold and die, general mechanical engineering and other applications, the solid carbide drill with internal coolant is highly effective for drilling steels, stainless steels, cast irons, non-ferrous metals, heat-resistant super alloys and hard materials (ISO P, M, K, N, S and H workpiece groups).

Photo Credit: PCS Company

High-Speed Steel Ejector Pins for Plastic Injection Molds

PCS Company introduces M-2 ejector pins, an enhancement to its already extensive line of high-quality, precision ejector pin products for plastic injection molds. M-2 ejector pins are made of high-speed steel, which gives them higher wear resistance and better machineability than other currently available pins, according to PCS. Pin diameters range from 1/32" through 1/4" with lengths of 6" and 10".

Photo Credit: Hasco

Single-Shot Nozzle Guarantees Efficient Injection Temperature Control

The Single Shot H6300 from Hasco offers an optimal price-to-performance ratio in the field of single nozzles and features improved temperature control. The range, extended with hardened nozzle tips, as well as single-hole and hot tip torpedo options — which are also used with the Vario Shot — increases this nozzle’s application possibilities.

Photo Credit: Oerlikon HRSflow

Hot Runner Cooling Design Lowers Energy Consumption, Maintenance

Hot runner supplier Oerlikon HRSflow has developed a hot runner injection molding system, HRScool Evo, in which the hydraulic cylinder that positions the pin does not require separate, active water cooling. Since the technology’s improvements announced in 2022, the company cites energy consumption reduction at the drops by up to 10%, depending on the system size and application.

Photo Credit: Cimatron

Mold/Die Software Establishes High Productivity for Mold Development

Cimatron, CAD/CAM software supplier for the mold and die industry, has released version 2024 of its product with stronger core capabilities, while incorporating new technology through collaboration with Sandvik Coromant. Cimatron 2024 simplifies and automates many tasks for mold designers for higher productivity, and more options for digital connection.

Photo Credit: Boride Engineered Abrasives

All-in-One Mold Repair and Polishing Kit

Boride Engineered Abrasives has launched its first Mold Repair Starter Kit. This convenient, cost-saving, all-in-one repair and polishing kit includes a variety of the company’s most popular products to get users from start to final finish. Well-suited for beginner polisher and expert polisher alike, the Mold Repair Starter Kit comes in a portable, lightweight plastic case that can be carried directly to the mold for instant repair or neatly stored at a workstation.

Photo Credit: Vision Engineering

Compact Digital Inspection Microscope Supports Immediate Information Capture

The VE Cam from Vision Engineering is a complete, standalone system for circuit board examination, PCB debug activities or for discovering imperfections, and to trace problems in a wide range of industrial applications. It is ideal for applications from goods-in quality inspection to shop floor inspection of turned parts, and suitable for manufacturing electronics, plastics, ceramics, mechanical engineering and additive manufacturing (AM).

Photo Credit: Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions

CMMs Give Moldmakers Precision, Sustainability, Ergonomic Operation

A new generation added to the Zeiss Prismo family of coordinate measuring machines (CMM) raise the standards of precision measurement in terms of speed, flexibility, sustainability and productivity. Consistently focused on increasing efficiency without sacrificing measurement accuracy, Zeiss’ four devices deliver maximum accuracy at high measuring speeds thanks to a new definition of the scanning parameters, reduce the carbon footprint and enhance user safety.

Photo Credit: Kyocera SGS Precision Tools

Roughing End Mill Line Combats High Metal Removal Operations

Kyocera SGS Precision Tools has expanded the Z-Carb HPR high-performance five-flute end mill line with more than 900 new tools featuring new long, extended reach and chip breaker options to combat a wider variety of high metal removal roughing operations and optimize surface finishes. Utilized extensively in automotive, general machining, mold and die and other industries, Z-Carb HPR’s five-flute design is engineered to increase productivity by 20-40% over conventional three- and four-flute end mills.

Photo Credit: Kistler

Melt Pressure Sensor Takes Measurements Directly in the Nozzle

Kistler has introduced the Type 4004A piezoresistive melt pressure sensor, featuring a front diameter of 3 mm, which enables it to operate directly in injection nozzles and small extruders. In these spaces, it can measure both pressure and temperature in direct contact with the plastic melt, with potential applications in hot runner systems and additive manufacturing.