Savings from the Front Lines: Using Hot Sprue Speeds Cycle Times, Yields Cost Savings

When an international supplier to the horticulture industry needed to mold a large part with a fast cycle time and low warpage, it turned to Buss Precision Mold Inc. (BPM; Clackamas, OR)—a mold manufacturer that prides itself on working with custom molders and OEMs to keep injection molding operations running smoothly.

According to BPM President Jonathan Buss, the company’s typical project is a package of molds with quick delivery requirements or parts with highly contoured surfaces, complex actions or unscrewing mechanisms required for the mold. Industries Buss serves include electronics, consumer products, industrial, agricultural, aerospace and transportation. Additionally, the company specializes in auto unscrewing, two-shot and metal-injection molds (MIMs).

Significant Cost Savings
“This particular project was one with relatively simple part design,” Buss explains. “However, the overall mold size and the extensive cooling were out of the ordinary. The finished mold weighed 6,800 pounds and is the largest, heaviest mold BPM has built to date.”

The finished part called for injection molding for a 25-inch diameter saucer. “We had to build an SPI class, 402 hardened single-cavity, 34” X 36” super-cooled mold,” Buss elaborates. “Our customer had specified using either a 3-drop or 6-drop Husky hot manifold to supply the mold with sufficient volume of plastic for fast fill and cycle time. The quoted budgetary prices for manifold ranged from $26,000 for 3-drop to $30,000 for 6-drop—including shipping.”

Buss and David Jakubowski, a Husky Sales Engineer, discussed the possibility of using a hot sprue for the project. Jakubowski ran an Autodesk MoldFlow study on the part to determine if a Husky high-performance, hot sprue bushing could accomplish the desired fill in under three seconds and target injection molding pressures. Upon completion of the MoldFlow study, the findings confirmed that the Husky Ultra 1000 hot sprue bushing with water-cooled gate insert would yield superior results—with a significant cost savings.

“The parts came out with excellent cycle time and no warpage after processing on T-1 testing,” Buss notes. “No tool adjustments were needed. The tool weighed less by 3,000 pounds and was easier to hang in-press as the customer has limited crane capabilities.

“Identifying potential savings for customers is a key part of Buss Precision Mold’s customer relationship strategy,” Buss concludes. “Another large aspect of ensuring our customers are profitable is design for manufacture and part design review. These value- added services identify and implement best practice solutions to alleviate the potential for adverse part quality or molding conditions during production.”