MoldMaking Technology's Top Ten Articles of All Time

MoldMaking Technology has been around for twenty-three years. In that time, it has grown and evolved with the moldmaking industry, and has provided a wide range of content that reflects that. Tips, generally informative articles, MMT Chats, new services and technologies, webinars, and more have been developed and presented to MMT’s audience—you!—from the editorial staff and contributing writers alike.

In that amount of time, certain articles—based on analytics information—have also been considered the most popular articles of all time. Ranging in age and topic, these top ten articles are listed below:

1. Four Key Uses of Prototyping

Whatever the item a company intends to produce, creating a prototype is crucial to the design process. According to Steve Upton from Schmit Prototypes, moldmakers would be wise to stay on top of technology developments and consider their use to improve the service they provide. This article explains in-depth how prototyping helps evaluate and test a design, clarify production costs, sell a product and secure patents.

2. How to Choose the Right Tool Coating for Your Machining Application

The right surface treatment on small round tools can increase overall life, decrease cycle time and promote better surface finishes. Unfortunately, choosing the right coating for your high production application can be a confusing and arduous task. In this top article, readers will become better associated with some common coating attributes and some popular PVD and CVD choices, of which all have their own advantages and disadvantages in the machining process

3. Texturing Molds for Thermoplastics: Factors for Success

This article takes a material approach and describes a range of factors that should be considered when selecting a texture or grain for a thermoplastic mold or die, as well as when reproducing that specified texture on a mold surface. Covering etchants used to texture material, the various methods to applying the texture, as well as economic factors to look out for, contributing writer Pete Kambouris from Wisconsin Engraving provides readers with an in-depth experience in this topic.

4. Mold Repair: Laser Welding Delivers Lower Costs and Better Quality

Repairing a worn mold is always going to be cheaper than replacing it. The catch is how well that refurbished mold is going to perform in the future. Will it produce parts of equal quality to the original? How long will it last until it needs repair again or has to be scrapped?

For molds going to the welding repair shop, the quality of the welds and the welding process has everything to do with answering those questions. In the U.S., the most common practice to rebuild worn cavity and core surfaces is with TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding. However, high-power pulsed laser welding is a higher-quality process that can deliver repaired molds that perform like new.

5. How to Deal with Graphite Dust, Part 1

In the first part of a two-part article, Jerry Mercer from Poco Graphite reviews characteristics and considerations when handling graphite dust. Asking the question of whether graphite dust is a hazard or nuisance, methods for controlling graphite dust during the electrode fabrication process and more is covered here. Part two examines the explosive potential of graphite dust and how to dispose of remnants that may be accumulating around the shop.

6. ISO 9000 - Pt.15 Handling/Storage/Packaging/Preservation/Delivery

Clause 14.5 was designed to provide a method to prevent damage or deterioration (i.e., preserving and segregating product), including appropriate storage to secure product or parts with the receipt and dispatch methods. More importantly, it links to Clause 4.3, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, and 4.10 and requires protection of product throughout the production process. Because the Clause is brief and often not adequately addressed, selected guidance from ISO 9004-1 and ISO 9000-2 has been provided in this article.

7. A Different Approach to Mold Venting

Proper mold venting is essential for producing quality parts. During the molding process, the air contained in the mold needs a way to escape, otherwise, the melt will compress and trap that air in the cavity. To overcome standard mold venting limitations and prove mold performance, this article details nonstandard and alternative venting solutions.

8. Why Choose a Valve-Gated Hot Runner?

Valve gate hot runner nozzles were introduced to the injection molding industry shortly after the first hot runner systems appeared on the market. At the time of this post, valve gates had also been chosen primarily for applications where thermal gate vestige was unacceptable. Outlined here, this article makes the argument that valve gates have tremendous value and advantages for injection molding quality and processing through an in-depth understanding of both thermal and valve gate technologies.

9. What You Should Consider When Purchasing Modified P20 Steel

P20, a 4130, 4135 modified material, has long been the steel of choice for pre-hardened mold steels. P20 is classified as a chrome-moly alloy, with a carbon content of approximately 0.30 to 0.40. Over time, many variations on basic P20 chemistry have been introduced to the marketplace. Each modification can have an effect on the various processes used in the fabrication of a mold.

This article explores the chemical variations of P20, and the factors that determine the quality of the surface finish of P20 steels.

Plastic Prototypes Using Silicone Rubber Molds

Prototyping has been around for a number of years, with the addition of one word, “rapid,” a new industry has been created. This article describes the techniques used to cast quality urethane parts from a silicone rubber mold using a five-step duplicating process.