The manufacturing process of molds is a relatively complex process. It needs to go through steps such as design, manufacturing, assembly, and debugging before it can be truly put into normal use. There are ten main factors that affect the quality of molds throughout their entire lifecycle:

1. Mold steel

Mold steel is a decisive factor affecting mold quality, therefore, choosing a reasonable mold steel is of utmost importance. Generally, the criteria for selecting mold steel are:

① Requirements for injection molding materials. Different plastics should use different mold steels, such as those required for high-precision polishing and corrosion resistance;

② Steel prices. Generally speaking, steel properties should be usable, not the more expensive the better. Considering the cost factor of the mold, it is advisable to choose materials that correspond to the mold's lifespan for the mold steel, which can avoid unnecessary waste. Generally, the lifespan of P20 mold steel is around 300000 cycles, 2738 has a lifespan of 500000 cycles without any problem, while H13/2344 typically has a lifespan of 800000 to over 1 million cycles. You can choose according to the situation;

③ Heat treatment. The surface treatment of molds is also very important. For example, nitriding can enhance the surface hardness of steel molds and effectively extend their lifespan; Electroplating can effectively modify mold steel, and for some plastic parts that require high brightness and/or corrosion resistance, electroplating technology can be used to enhance and improve the surface properties of steel molds.

2. Mold structure design

A mature mold structure not only needs to consider the properties of the molded product material, such as molding temperature, shrinkage rate, elastic tensile deformation coefficient, but also needs to take into account the design of cooling water channels, mold opening and closing speed, etc. A reasonable mold structure can not only effectively extend the life of the mold, but also ensure the smooth production of the mold, improve production efficiency, and reduce production costs.

3. Mold processing

As the saying goes, in order to do a good job, one must first sharpen their tools. The process arrangement of mold processing is particularly important. Reasonable process arrangement can shorten processing time, accelerate production cycle, and effectively save costs. Moreover, more importantly, precise and reasonable processing can effectively ensure the stability of the mold during its production process and extend its lifespan. Processing errors can cause the mold to need to be welded. No matter how beautiful the welding is, it is a disadvantageous loss for the mold; In addition, poor processing may also affect the movement of the mold, reduce its lifespan, or cause the mold to crack or even break during production.

4. Mold standard parts

As we all know, the lowest wooden bar determines the capacity of the water bucket, and this principle is well understood by everyone. However, it is often overlooked in practice. The same goes for molds. Although standard parts do not directly participate in the molding of products, they control the normal operation of the entire mold. Good standard parts should have characteristics such as high precision, wear resistance, sufficient hardness, and resistance to deformation. The price difference between standard parts of different brands is also significant, so when making molds, don't blindly bargain. If you keep killing, your molds will drop from Mercedes Benz to Volkswagen.

5. Collision (also known as flying model)

The collision mainly relies on the experience of the mold fitter. A seemingly simple task, but the most technically demanding job, for complex molds, the main focus is on this skill. Flat mold is the simplest, as long as there are no burrs (or burrs) on its parting surface, it is basically okay. However, plastic molds for automotive parts are very troublesome, as they not only have irregular parting surfaces, but also often include multiple sliders and top blocks. At the same time, through collision (flying mold), other problems with the mold can be discovered and improved, making it a very comprehensive task.

6. Polishing/Leather Texture

The polishing of molds is the final step in mold manufacturing. Polishing is directly reflected on the plastic parts, so it is the most prestigious job. Polishing can also help and supplement the mold movement, especially for demolding, which is very meaningful. Often, some mold production is not smooth due to inadequate polishing, excessive resistance, difficult demolding, and even top whitening, top cracking, etc.

7. Mold assembly

Mold assembly is like assembling a machine, every component and every screw must not be wrong, otherwise the consequences will be quite serious. Mild cases can lead to product defects and affect production; Severe damage can completely damage the mold and result in scrapping. So, the assembly work must be very meticulous. During the assembly process, special attention should be paid to the cleaning of the mold, especially the waterway and screw holes. The iron filings inside must be blown clean, otherwise the customer will be very angry.

8. Hot runner or cold runner

This actually has a certain impact on the quality of the mold. Hot runners are usually designated brands by customers, especially for some large clients. Renowned hot runner brands both domestically and internationally have excellent quality and after-sales service, so there are generally no quality issues. But some hot runners in China have uneven quality. Some small businesses, in order to gain price advantages and save costs, use unreliable heating and conduction components, which can easily lead to problems.

The main issues with the cold runner are how to ensure the balance of injection molding, gate size, injection pressure, and so on.

9. Cooling water circuit

Those who have experience with molds know how important cooling is for a mold. Due to the increase in prices and labor wages, the profit generated by reducing the injection molding cycle by one second in mass production of products is unimaginable. However, while accelerating the production cycle, it will also lead to an increase in mold temperature. If not effectively controlled, the mold will become too hot to form, and even deform, fail, and be scrapped. Therefore, excellent waterway design is particularly important, including the layout density, diameter, and connection methods between waterways.

10. Mold maintenance

Mold maintenance mainly refers to the maintenance and upkeep during the mold production process. Molds are like cars, and if they are not used for a long time without maintenance, they may be scrapped. So, comprehensive maintenance should be carried out after each use of the mold, especially for the rust prevention of the molding part and the main moving parts. Because the mold needs to be exposed to water during the production process, there may be water on the mold during installation or disassembly. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the mold is dry and then apply a layer of protective oil.