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Thermoplastic Molding and Tooling

Thermoplastic molding and tooling can make or break an injection molding operation. While it may seem expensive up-front, the efficiency and longevity that is gained through proper design, maintenance, and repair make tooling and molding cost-effective. However, because of the initial upfront cost, it’s important to be precise and accurate the first time.

During injection molding, molten plastic is injected into a mold that is then cooled and extracted. If the mold is designed correctly, it will repeatedly produce large volumes of plastic components with high accuracy. The mold and all of its components make up the tooling, and its design has significant impact on the quality and wastage of the final product.

Lomont Molding’s state-of-the-art tooling facility, with approximately 5,000 square feet, employs experienced tool designers and mold makers who are fully equipped for mold construction, repair, and scheduled mold maintenance. They are knowledgeable in all types of materials, mold bases and tool construction, and will work with you to create the thermoplastic tooling you need for your application.

Thermoplastic Tooling Design Ensures Accurate, Repeatable Part Production

Creating a mold and choosing the best tools for the job have a direct affect on the quality of the resulting product. Tool design involves deciding on the components and machinery that will be used to create the desired product. Injection molding tooling consists of three parts: the core half of the mold, the cavity half of the mold, and the ejector pins. They can also include additional components like pins, bases, lifters, guides, bushings, and alignment devices.

Mold design is a critical step of the process because it shapes the end product. In this phase, our experts troubleshoot potential issues to ensure longevity and overall quality. When designing a mold, there are a few considerations to think about:

Material selection
Wall stock thickness
Physical and chemical properties of the resin
The best type of gate and gate locations
Mold component functionality
Operational constraints
Proper vent locations

Preliminary design models are created to determine the mold sides and steel sizes. These designs need to be reviewed and approved before mold construction can begin. The tool builder is given the specifications and makes any final adjustments and examines the design for accuracy and manufacturability.

Each mold must have certain components. These include:

Gates: These are openings at the end of the runners that direct the flow of molten plastic into the mold cavity. When determining the best gate types and locations for a particular mold, engineers examine what will achieve the best flow, fill pressure, cooling time, and dimensions/tolerance.

Draft: Easy removal of the final product is often overlooked in mold design. Removing the final product without any damage to the surface is achieved through a draft angle to the walls of the mold. The degree of the angle depends on:

The design of the part
The material
The depth of the mold cavity
The surface finishes
The surface textures
The amount of shrinkage

Finish and Texture: The surface finish of a part is determined by mold cooling and part cooling. Molds can also be designed to apply a texture or pattern to the mold surface. Textures can help reduce wear and friction and can also allow for graphics or logos to be placed on the part as well.

Systematic Mold Maintenance Improves Longevity and Efficiency of Tooling

In order to maintain the operation and efficiency of thermoplastic tooling, regular and systematic mold maintenance should be occurring. The injection molding process can cause wear on a mold, resulting in rust, cracks, trapped air in the mold, and material residue. If left untreated, this can lead to part defects, premature mold failure, and even machine damage.

Preventative maintenance should be regularly performed and should not wait until damage has already been done. Mold maintenance can be many processes including disassembly, troubleshooting, mold repair, cleaning, and assembly. It’s important to clean mold cavities of dust, debris, and water, and to inspect the mold and its components.

Proper mold maintenance leads to benefits like:

Decreased labor hours and spare-parts usage
Reduced or eliminated part defects
Reduced scrap rates and downtime
Uniform cooling throughout mold
Improved part quality
Improved mold performance and reliability
Improved skill levels and morale of repair technicians

Contact Lomont Molding for Thermoplastic Molding

Our state-of-the-art tooling facility employs experienced tool designers, mold makers, and journeymen. With nearly a century of experience in all types of materials, mold bases, and tool construction, our team of mold designers and tool builders have the expertise to assist in any stage of tool creation and maintenance. In addition to in-house tool building, we have cultivated relationships with foreign and domestic tool builders.