Best Practices for Mold Cleaning
Mold maintenance is a big part of the mold manufacturing process. So much so, it is part of MoldMaking Technology's tagline: Engineer, Build, Maintain. Toolrooms across the globe are faced with mold dilemnas that can often be avoided with a little TLC, namely proper mold cleaning. I came across some very useful mold cleaning tips that I'd like to share.
Share
Mold maintenance is a big part of the mold manufacturing process. So much so, it is part of MoldMaking Technology's tagline: Engineer, Build, Maintain. Toolrooms across the globe are faced with mold dilemnas that can often be avoided with a little TLC, namely proper mold cleaning. I came across some very useful mold cleaning tips from Slide Products that I'd like to share.
These fall into the following five categories: (1) heat can help or hurt the process as various cleaning solvents have different characteristics and work differently at different temperatures; (2) there is a wide variety of cleaner formulations with varying characteristics; (3) the requirements of offline cleaners are primarily to dissolve resins, grease, oil, mold release and sometimes rust; (4) use a mold polish/cleaning compound; and (5) online cleaners are used to remove mold release build up, plate out of resins and light rusting of the mold while it is still warm and in the press. For more on each of these five items click here.
For an end user approach to mold maintenance, read a March 2015 MMT article by John Berg, Marketing Director from MGS Mfg. that outlines their systematic approach to mold cleaning.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Surface Finish: Understanding Mold Surface Lingo
The correlation between the units of measure used to define mold surfaces is a commonly raised question. This article will lay these units of measure side by side in a conversion format so that companies can confidently understand with what they are dealing.
-
Understanding the Effect of Pressure in the Cavity
Molders offer a moving target for moldmakers to adjust to by producing parts with different cavity pressures.
-
Teach Yourself Polishing
Schools for mold polishing do not exist and most veteran polishers don't want to teach the subject, so here are a few simple polishing guidelines.
