Products to Advance Your Mold Shop

Source (clockwise) | Swiss Steel Group, Emuge-Franken, GF Machining and Platinum Tooling Technologies

No matter the season or year, innovation never goes out of style. Manufacturing is always evolving to be faster and more streamlined, and it’s important to stay on top of what’s on the market to ensure your own business remains on top, while also meeting customer needs.

MMT has compiled several newly released or improved product offerings geared toward improving the performance, efficiency, flexibility, reliability and ease of use for your shop’s operations. Thread milling extensions, digital troubleshooting platforms, tools for accurately scanning large, complex molds, and even solutions for meeting needs as simple as identifying products or protecting workers in the shop — these innovations and more are detailed below.

Large Mold Mounts Eliminate Shop Floor Hazards

Source | Progressive Components

Progressive Components announces the recent expansion of its RhinoFeet product line by introducing a new 5" tall version for larger tools and mold plates. Initially released in 2020, Progressive’s RhinoFeet have been established as a simple, safe and efficient solution for elevating and storing heavy items within the shop.

Stainless Steel Grades Eliminate Complex Machining Challenges

Source | Swiss Steel Group

Stainless steel supplier Swiss Steel presents Ugima-X martensitic and duplex steels, which extend the quality of the company’s Ugima-X austenitic grades. New material options include Ugima-X 4021 and Ugima-X 4028 in the martensitic steel family, offering increased hardness and high wear resistance.

Open Source Data Exchange Enabled With Hot Runner Control Unit

Source | Hasco

Hasco has made additional advances to its range of Primezone H1281 hot runner control units, which provide optimal control accuracy, an intuitive user interface thanks to latest software technologies and comprehensive diagnostic functions.

CAM Software Enhances 3+2-Axis Toolpath Programming

CloudNC has announced that its CAM Assist solution can now create programming strategies and tool paths with AI for 3+2-axis CNC machines. The new upgrade means CAM Assist can now provide strategies and tool paths for 3+2-axis components, enabling many more manufacturers to benefit from CAM Assist’s efficiency gains.

Source | CloudNC

Thread Mill Line Expansion Intended for Challenging Threading Applications, Materials

Source | Emuge-Franken

Emuge-Franken USA introduces an expanded line of thread mills, including solutions for challenging threading applications and materials such as nickel alloys, titanium, high tensile strength steels, hardened high alloy steels, cast iron, cast aluminum and more.

Internal Coolant Live Tools Address More Productive Deep-Hole Drilling

Source | Platinum Tooling Technologies Inc.

Platinum Tooling Technologies Inc., the exclusive importer of Heimatec live tools and angle heads, announces its expansion of internal coolant tools for popular machine tools models. Heimatec now offers high-pressure coolant-thru designs up to 1,000 psi on straight tools and 2,000 psi on 90-degree tools.

Digital Platform Enables Remote Machine Troubleshooting

Source | GF Machining Solutions

GF Machining Solutions (GFMS) has launched its new My rConnect platform engineered for the company’s EDM, milling and laser texturing machines. The platform enables shops to connect any model of GFMS machine for fast, responsive and easily accessible service and support while also providing expanded digital capabilities.

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.

Source | Unisig Deep Hole Drilling Systems

Hot Runner Processes Commodity Resins for Cost-Sensitive Applications

Source | Mold-Masters

Mold-Masters launches the EcoONE series hot runner system for processing commodity resins for cost-sensitive applications such as consumer goods, small home appliances, basic automotive components, electronic peripherals/accessories and more.

Zoom-Enabled Optical 3D Scanner Made Flexible for Inspecting Complex Molds

Source | Hexagon

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence Division has announced the launch of a new type of high-productivity structured light scanner, the SmartScan VR800. Built on a completely reengineered platform, the optical 3D scanner is equipped with a motorized zoom lens that enables users to adjust data resolution and measurement volume entirely through software settings. This greatly improves the productivity of quality inspection, and further improves workflows with more efficient post-scanning alignment processes, including the ability to combine scans of different resolutions within a single project.

Thousandth Increment Ejector Pins Designed for Small Cavity, Core Inserts

Source | Progressive Components

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.

Three-in-One Cutter Boosts Thread Milling Capabilities

Walter USA’s Thrill∙tec TC645 Supreme thread milling cutter combines the machining steps of core hole drilling, chamfering and threading in a single tool and operation to boost productivity. The cutting tool creates the core hole and threads using helical interpolation.

Source | Walter USA

Standard Hot Runner Cable Range Extension

Source | Hasco

Hasco hot runner is now offering additional cable options in the industry standard. While the premium cable H1225 continues to be popular, Hasco customers can, with immediate effect, also obtain standard cables with a wider selection of wiring standards and cable lengths.

Validation Software Enables Efficient Translation of CAD/CAM Data

Source | Verisurf Software Inc.

Verisurf Software Inc. has announced that its integrated CAD/CAM translation and validation software, Validate, now includes direct access to an enhanced standalone version of Kubotek Kosmos Validate software. The two companies have reportedly worked together since 2011 and created the Verisurf Validate module that works within Verisurf and supports CAD/CAM translation validation for customers needing to meet Boeing Standard D6-51991. Kubotek Kosmos maintains an expanded version of the software with added features and bidirectional compatibility between all popular CAD/CAM software programs and file transfer protocols, which is now accessible directly to Verisurf Validate customers.

UKCA Identification Stamp Expands Clear Compliance

Source | Hasco

The requirements for the marking of plastic parts are increasing all the time. In addition to date and batch identification, information on food safety, recyclability and European conformity (CE) marking is becoming increasingly important. Hasco’s newly introduced identification stamps offer solutions for the clear and direct international identification of plastic parts

Freeform Injection Molding Now Integrated With Desktop Injection Molding Machine

In a recent collaboration, injection molding machine supplier APSX-PIM and Nexa3D have integrated the APSX-PIM desktop injection molding machine with Nexa3D’s freeform injection molding (FIM) 3D printers, culminating in new possibilities for product design, prototyping and production. The APSX-PIM offers a compact footprint, user-friendly interface and versatility, while FIM enables precise, high-speed, 3D printed soluble tooling.