What Moldmakers Read Most: 2024’s MMT Today Highlights
Discover the technical tips, case studies, and innovations that dominated our newsletter clicks this year.
As we wrap up 2024, let’s take a moment to celebrate what resonated with you – our readers. This year, your curiosity and passion for moldmaking drove some incredible conversations and insights. In this article, we spotlight the top articles you found most valuable, from innovative solutions to industry trends that fueled your work and inspired new ideas. Thank you for being a part of our community and for making these stories come alive.
Confronting the Mold Design Talent Drought
Recently, editorial director, Christina Fuges posted on LinkedIn the results of an informal survey we conducted, which revealed a shortage of skilled mold designers. It quickly gained a lot of traction. Given the response, we summarized the feedback to keep the conversation going.
Father/Daughter Team Takes Mold Business into the Future
Innovation, personalized service and a team’s collective mold manufacturing experience earn customer loyalty for 56 years and set the business up for future success.
B A Die Mold specializes in unscrewing and multi-action tooling for highly engineered parts and also designs and manufactures high-quality molds.
Source: B A Die Mold Inc.
Shift in U.S. Mold Imports: Emerging Countries Gain Ground in Market Share
The dynamic nature of the U.S. mold industry's global trade landscape offers challenges and opportunities for growth.
Tackling a Mold Designer Shortage
Survey findings reveal a shortage of skilled mold designers and engineers in the moldmaking community, calling for intervention through educational programs and exploration of training alternatives while seeking input from those who have addressed the issue successfully.
A complex, one-cavity injection mold was a game-changer for the Kid Caddie's design and functionality. Source: Kid Caddie
Best Practices for Engraving Cores and Cavities
Consider depth, font style, artwork size, polarity and location when engraving.
Complex Mold, Versatile Piece of Engineering Enhances Golf
A complex, one-cavity injection mold changed the game for the design and functionality of an innovative golf accessory.
Dive Into 3 Different Mold Shops With Me
As MMT's newest team member, Fiona Lawler had the opportunity to visit three very different mold shops. Learn more about the differences and similarities she saw among the shops she visited, but most importantly, the aspect of community she saw within each.
Pictured above is a Sodick Wire EDM machine in action on the shop floor.
Source: Matrix Plastic Products
Ejector Pin Selection Guide
A review of materials, treatments, and coatings to help determine the proper pins for optimized plastic part ejection.
Why Shoulder Bolts Are Too Important to Ignore (Part 1)
These humble but essential fasteners used in injection molds are known by various names and used for a number of purposes.
Related Content
-
MMT Chats: Developing a Mold Engineering Apprenticeship Model
New mold design and 3D printing company wanted to partner with a local high school to train mold designers and a National Tooling & Machining Association Mold Design Group Apprenticeship was the answer. This episode is brought to you by ISCAR with New Ideas for Machining Intelligently.
-
VIDEO: How to Protect Your Hot Runner Systems
Chad Root Managing Partner for Fast Heat by Spark Industries reviews some molding machine integration concepts that protect hot runner systems, the molding machine, reduce scrap and help keep a log of events.
-
Mentorship Matters: A Fresh Perspective from a Young Female Newcomer to a Mature Male-Dominated Industry
Jane Huot, a 23-year-old mold designer and project manager, celebrated her one-year anniversary with Accede Mold & Tool by going on her first business trip to a conference geared for women in plastics and shadowing sales on customer visits.
