One-Stop Shop Simplifies Custom Surface Textures, Mold Performance

Through its One Partner Solution, Standex Engraving Mold-Tech offers services and technologies that support projects from the beginning to end — from specialized finishing through to manufacturing support.

The company’s services start by designing a custom texture tailored to a customer product, verifying those grains on the product, engraving the tool and then optimizing that tool for streamlined manufacturing. Standex Engraving Mold-Tech highlights the seventh-generation Ford Mustang as a key example of its capabilities, demonstrating its laser engraving technology throughout, but in particular on the front door speaker grill (shown at right), which presented a challenge.

Ford’s front door upper speaker mold was laser engraved with a carbon fiber texture onto a steel surface consisting of both benched and EDM in a seamless fashion. Standex Engraving notes the preciseness of laser engraving, which can control the grain locations around featured surfaces and shut-offs. The end result camouflages the speaker holes within the texture itself, eliminating the need for framing or a separate grill piece required.