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What's New and What Works in Mold Manufacturing

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Engineer See All

Analysis
Why One CAD/CAM Vendor Keeps a Human in the Loop on Every AI Toolpath
IMTS 2026: Cimatron pairs AI-generated toolpaths with machine-sourced simulation data, arguing shops need verification, not blind trust, before AI recommendations reach the machine.

Design & Mfg. Software
My Take on IMTS 2026: Innovations Solving Real Shop Needs
Conversations during IMTS 2026 show a workforce shortage shaping every product decision and a manufacturing industry being honest about what AI can and can't do.

Business Strategy
August's Most-Read on MoldMaking Technology
From shop-floor case studies and additive manufacturing scaling to sales alignment and knowledge retention — here's what MoldMaking Technology readers clicked on most in August.

Design & Mfg. Software
How Metal AM Cut Mold Cycle Time by 20%
Collaboration between a mold builder, metal printer manufacturer and simulation expert produced conformal cooling inserts that dramatically reduced injection molding cycle time while eliminating defects and improving part quality consistency.

Mold Components
July's Most-Viewed Products on MoldMaking Technology
From five-axis machining centers and CAD/CAM upgrades to ejector pins and AI-powered ERP tools — see the IMTS showcase products that caught moldmakers' attention in July.

Design & Mfg. Software
Reducing EDM Dependency
Optimizing roughing and electrode strategies in hard material mold machining.
Build See All

Automation
Machine Tool Builder Betting Big (Literally) on Automation You Can Add Later
IMTS 2026: Kitamura's new 45-ton five-axis horizontal was built to accept pallet automation any time a shop is ready, not only at the moment of purchase.

Analysis
Closing the Loop on Ultra-Precision Mold Machining
Real-time measurement, compensation and process validation are transforming ultra-precision hard milling from skilled craftsmanship into scalable, repeatable production.

Cutting Tools
My Take on IMTS 2026: Innovations Solving Real Shop Needs
Conversations during IMTS 2026 show a workforce shortage shaping every product decision and a manufacturing industry being honest about what AI can and can't do.

Machining
The Gun Drilling Machine Builder That Reinvests 90 Percent of Its Profits, on Purpose
IMTS 2026: UNISIG ties its service reputation to a forced-investment policy, a new in-house grinder and AI used only to speed its own software development.

Artificial Intelligence
Wrapping a Machine in Disguise to Make a Point About Retrofitting
IMTS 2026: Control maker Heidenhain disguised an old machine to demonstrate retrofit technology without naming a partner, alongside a new contained AI agent trained only on its own data.

Automation
MMT Chat: Structure, Succession and the Next Generation
Lauren Fischer explains how Dynamic Tool balances flexible ISO systems, succession planning and new outreach to build its shop workforce.
Maintain See All

Inspection & Measurement
Why Moldmakers Are Moving Inspection Onto the Machine Instead of Into a Separate Room
IMTS 2026: Hexagon describes inspection shifting from a standalone CMM step into an in-process decision tool, verifying tools, machines and even molded parts as they're made.

Basics
June's Most-Read on MoldMaking Technology
June's top articles reflected a focus on two converging themes: AI adoption in practical shop operations, and back-to-basics technical content that never goes out of style.

Surface Treatment
Expert Thin Wall Mold Restoration
Restoring high-speed packaging molds to peak performance through advanced techniques, precision machining and 50% faster turnaround times.

Automation
How Digitized Inspection and AI Are Reshaping Mold Shop Workflows
AI transforms moldmaking inspection by turning measurement data into predictive process intelligence through connected digital workflows, replacing manual interpretation.

Machining
Molding Minds: The May Articles Readers Loved Most
From the shop floor to the conference stage, May's most-read articles reflect an industry navigating change on every front.

Maintenance & Repair
Making Every Cycle Count — Best Practices in Maintenance for Maximum Uptime
Plastics processing equipment works hard around the clock. In many operations, unplanned downtime is too expensive to contemplate.
Manage See All

Economics
Moldmaking Index Rebounds in September as Employment Returns to Growth
A broad recovery led by hiring and new orders lifted the index to 56.4, reversing August's result and extending the expansion streak to nine months.

Leadership
MMT Chats: Wisdom Transfer Is Manufacturing's Survival Skill
Industry veteran Bob Smith shares crucial insights on mentorship as the key to overcoming manufacturing's growing skills gap.

Leadership
The Moldmaking Cycle: What Four Decades of Production Reveal About Industrial Investment
Four decades of metalworking machinery data show investment cycles that often diverge from National Bureau of Economic Research recessions, offering manufacturers an early signal.

Leadership
Your People Are Already Using AI. Now What?
Let's face it — the question most mold shop leaders are asking about AI is the wrong one. "Are we ready?" assumes you have the luxury of waiting. You don't.

Design & Mfg. Software
August's Most-Read on MoldMaking Technology
From shop-floor case studies and additive manufacturing scaling to sales alignment and knowledge retention — here's what MoldMaking Technology readers clicked on most in August.

Automation
MMT Chat: Custom Software, AI and Next-Gen Talent
MPC's tooling manager builds AI-integrated ERP software in-house, tackling mold shop scheduling while linking AI adoption to next-generation workforce appeal.
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- Webinars
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Webinars See All

On Demand
MMT Tech Days: Mold Design Fundamentals: A Framework for Smarter Decisions
This webinar breaks mold design down into its three essential pillars — Flow, Thermal and Mechanical. Each pillar will be covered by four leading mold builders, with each sharing their decision-making strategies for comparing common design choices, from gating and cooling to steel selection and ejection strategies. The webinar helps both new and experienced designers establish a shared language and consistent approach to designing robust, efficient tooling.Industry veterans will appreciate insights from peers who’ve lived these challenges, while newer designers and toolmakers will gain clarity on how critical components fit together — and why certain decisions matter more than others. This webinar won’t attempt to cover everything, but it will deliver high-value fundamentals, real examples and the perspectives that drive better design choices.

On Demand
Practical Mold Machining Tips and Strategies for Training Teams
Discover proven strategies for training today’s moldmaking teams amid a shortage of skilled labor. This webinar explores practical machining techniques and self-paced learning resources designed to strengthen shopfloor capabilities. Learn how e-learning tools can support key processes — including milling, hole-making, turning, threading, parting and groove turning — while empowering the next generation of moldmakers with real-world, on-demand metalworking education. Throughout the session, the speaker will highlight real-world customer examples that demonstrate how these training tools and techniques are being successfully applied in mold shops.
Videos See All

Business Strategy
MMT Chats: Wisdom Transfer Is Manufacturing's Survival Skill
Industry veteran Bob Smith shares crucial insights on mentorship as the key to overcoming manufacturing's growing skills gap.

MMT Chats: Turning Plastic Part Curiosity Into Hires
Zach Clark explains how Electroform's two-hour shop tours and backward mold walkthroughs turn curious students into committed future hires consistently.

Workforce Development
MMT Chat: Structure, Succession and the Next Generation
Lauren Fischer explains how Dynamic Tool balances flexible ISO systems, succession planning and new outreach to build its shop workforce.

Artificial Intelligence
MMT Chat: Custom Software, AI and Next-Gen Talent
MPC's tooling manager builds AI-integrated ERP software in-house, tackling mold shop scheduling while linking AI adoption to next-generation workforce appeal.

Artificial Intelligence
What Comes After the Test Bed
Atomic Industries has spent a few years proving its technology works. Now they’re scaling it.

30 under 30
MMT Chat: Mapping Process, Growing Talent at NyproMold
NyproMold's Mark Keller shares how process mapping, vocational school partnerships and AI-assisted scheduling keep custom moldmaking precisely on track.
Events See All

13 Oct 2026
SPE Vinyl Plastics Division - VINYLTEC 2026
The SPE Vinyl Plastics Division chapter hosts VINYLTEC 2026 on Oct. 13-15, 2026 in Atlanta, GA.

20 Oct 2026
SPE - Microplastics Forum
SPE hosts Microplastics Forum on Oct. 20-21, 2026 in Baltimore, MD.

20 Oct 2026
SPE - Chemical Safety in Plastics: PFAS and Beyond
SPE hosts Chemical Safety in Plastics: PFAS and Beyond on Oct. 20-21, 2026 in Baltimore, MD.

22 Oct 2026
AMBA - Plant Tour Workshop - Hanson International
AMBA hosts Plant Tour Workshop - Hanson International on Oct. 22, 2026 online.

22 Oct 2026
SPE Injection Molding Division - Injection Molding Innovation Summit 2026
The SPE Injection Molding Division chapter hosts Injection Molding Innovation Summit 2026 on Oct. 22, 2026 in Warrensville Heights, OH.

4 Nov 2026
SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala
The SPE Automotive Division chapter hosts SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala on Nov. 4, 2026 in Livonia, MI.

7 Oct 2026 New & Upcoming
Women in Manufacturing Summit Register Now
Suppliers See All

Additive Manufacturing

Business Development

Cleaning & Pretreatment

Inspection, Testing, Measurement

Manufacturing Execution & Automation Software & Controls

Manufacturing Services

Materials

Pollution Control & Sustainability

Supplies

Temperature/Pressure Control Equipment

Workholding
Basics/101 See All

FAQ
September's Most-Read on MoldMaking Technology
From IMTS 2026 takeaways and AI in the shop to shop-floor stories and workforce building, here's what MoldMaking Technology readers read most in September.

Basics
The Making of a Manufacturing Professional: From Korea Training To CNC Machine Programming
Months after his training trip to South Korea, Jeremy Draper applies what he learned to manifold manufacturing and CNC programming back at Yudo's U.S. facility.

Hot Runners
Understanding Hot Runner Temperature Controllers
Learn what’s new and what’s possible in the various hot runner temperature controller formats, including modular, GUI-style and advanced GUI-style systems.

Leadership
June's Most-Read on MoldMaking Technology
June's top articles reflected a focus on two converging themes: AI adoption in practical shop operations, and back-to-basics technical content that never goes out of style.

Mold Components
Tooling: Why Ejector Pins Break And How to Prevent It, Part 2
Here’s the when and how to reduce the unsupported length of pins.

Leadership
5 Tips for Smarter, AI-Powered Quoting in Moldmaking
AI-powered quoting tools trained on a shop’s own data deliver faster, more accurate and secure estimates tailored to real operations.
Mold Design & Optimization

New Product Development
Strategies for moldmakers to effectively manage new product development projects.

Strategic Mold Design
With complex plastic parts it can be difficult to deliver proper cooling and venting.

Mold Design Series
The mold specification document is essential for injection molding success, connecting design requirements with manufacturing processes and quality control standards.

Injection Mold Design Handbook
All successful mold build projects start with examining the part to be molded to ensure it is moldable and will meet the customers' production objectives.
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Mid-America Machining Inc

Mid-America Machining Inc

AS SEEN ON MMT

11530 Brooklyn Rd
Brooklyn, MI 49230 US
517-592-8988
info@mid-americamachining.com
mid-americamachining.com

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Mid-America Machining Inc Supplies the Following Products

Editorial, News, and Products

Molded to Perfection

CONTRAX Grand Rapids

Micromachining

Join us in Greenville!

YCM Technology USA Inc.

Smooth Changeovers!

Regal Components Inc.

High Quality Molds Faster