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Plastic Mold Materials

What's New and What Works in Mold Manufacturing

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Engineer See All

Case Study
ERP Empowers Mold Builder to Increase Speed, Efficiency, Accuracy
Highly integrated but easy-to-use ERP system helps Delta Mold Inc. increase unattended hours, uptime, productive labor hours and improve mold delivery times.

FAQ
Mold Design Review: The Complete Checklist
Gerardo (Jerry) Miranda III, former global tooling manager for Oakley sunglasses, reshares his complete mold design checklist, an essential part of the product time and cost-to-market process.

Data Management Software
How to Customize an Interoperable Software Solution for Your Moldmaking Process
A connected software solution streamlines the moldmaking process by providing a unified source of design data, enhancing efficiency and reducing errors, with five key steps benefiting from this integration.

Data Management Software
How to Manage a CAD Library
Learn five ways to organize your mold design information.

Design & Mfg. Software
Design, Management Software Resources for Mold, Die Applications
As technology advances, so too do the options available to efficiently design molds or manage the data involved in their progress and production. Here’s a roundup of some of those solutions.

Workforce Development
New Year, New Popular Articles from MoldMaking Technology
The top ten most-viewed articles in January reflected not only what our readers wanted to see—but also what is new and trending in moldmaking.
Build See All

Aluminum
How to Machine Aluminum Molds to Enhance Efficiency and Quality
Ways to optimize the machining process to fully leverage the benefits of an aluminum mold.

Mold Components
How to Manage a CAD Library
Learn five ways to organize your mold design information.

Five Axis
How to Implement Five-Axis Mold Machining for Higher Productivity, Versatility
Understanding the basics of five-axis capabilities justifies the investment, but exploring all the multi-axis machine benefits and approaches enhances the return on investment.

Additive Manufacturing
8 Ways the Plastics Industry is Using 3D Printing
Plastics processors are finding applications for 3D printing around the plant and across the supply chain. Here are 8 examples to look for at NPE 2024.

Additive Manufacturing
Mold Materials, 3D Printing Technologies for Next-Gen Moldmaking
As moldmaking advances, so too do the materials and processes involved in their efficient production, including these latest mold materials and 3D printing technologies.

Industry 40
Real-Time Production Monitoring as Automation
As an injection molder, Windmill Plastics sought an economical production monitoring system that could help it keep tabs on its shop floor. It’s now selling the “very focused” digital supervisor it created, automating many formerly manual tasks.
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Surface Treatment
Reasons to Use Fiber Lasers for Mold Cleaning
Fiber lasers offer a simplicity, speed, control and portability, minimizing mold cleaning risks.

FAQ
Mold Maintenance Continues to Matter: Enhanced Training Program in a New Facility
I attended a MoldTrax mold maintenance workshop in 2019 and shared my experiences, and despite changes in ownership, the workshop's remarkable value endures, as discussed in a recent Q&A with the current leadership.

Maintenance & Repair
How to Implement a Remote Validation Process
A review of the setup and use of a remote mold validation kit.

Maintenance & Repair
How to Maintain Heaters, Thermocouples, Valve Gates and Controls
An examination of real-world problems and solutions involving hot runner system maintenance.

Conformal Cooling
How to Use Simulation to Achieve a High-Gloss Surface Finish
Combining simulation, conformal cooling, and a rapid heat and cooling process can predict and produce the required surface finish for high-gloss plastic parts.

Maintenance & Repair
What You Should Know About Injection Mold Safety Straps
Every mold should have one in order to be safe and OSHA compliant.
Manage See All

Business Strategy
Mold Design Review: The Complete Checklist
Gerardo (Jerry) Miranda III, former global tooling manager for Oakley sunglasses, reshares his complete mold design checklist, an essential part of the product time and cost-to-market process.

Business Strategy
Aligning Your People Strategy with Your Business
Editorial Advisory Board member Marion Wells, founder of Human Asset Management discusses the why and how of developing a talent plan.

Workforce Development
2024 AMBA Conference Taught Me How to Elevate, Engage and Evolve
I returned home with a wealth of inspiration and instructions, including the importance of leaning into discomfort, having difficult discussions, delegating more, letting others shine and understanding the difference between a promise and a goal.

Education
The Intersection of Robotics, Hands-on Training in Mold Design Curriculum
A Q&A with Nicholas Vitelli, MoldMaking Technology EAB member and engineering lecturer at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.

FAQ
Mold Maintenance Continues to Matter: Enhanced Training Program in a New Facility
I attended a MoldTrax mold maintenance workshop in 2019 and shared my experiences, and despite changes in ownership, the workshop's remarkable value endures, as discussed in a recent Q&A with the current leadership.

Education
Tackling a Mold Designer Shortage
Survey findings reveal a shortage of skilled mold designers and engineers in the moldmaking community, calling for intervention through educational programs and exploration of training alternatives while seeking input from those who have addressed the issue successfully.
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- Webinars
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Webinars See All

On Demand
Design for Maintenance: Five Tips to Extend Tool Life and Simplify Maintenance
Want to extend tool life? You need a design for maintenance approach. Incorporating design for maintenance into your tooling process can help you reduce running maintenance costs, enhance part quality and reduce the risk of human errors. In this webinar, you'll learn five essential tips for getting started with design for maintenance. Plus, discover how Canon Virginia, Inc.'s mold maintenance planning process and tooling solutions can add value to your business. Agenda: Understand business and technical values of design for maintenance and maintenance planning Learn five tips for design for maintenance you can put into practice today Adopt Canon Virginia, Inc.'s mold maintenance planning process and tooling solutions

On Demand
Unlocking the Potential of Polycarbonate: Best Practices for Successful Injection Molding
In today's manufacturing landscape, it's common to be tasked with doing more with less. You rely on a combination of factors to mold smaller parts with greater precision to satisfy growing demands and higher production levels — all within a smaller space. In this context, polycarbonate has become a popular material for modern products and injection molding applications. Manufacturers and designers increasingly select polycarbonate for its high impact resistance, stiffness, optical clarity, light weight and dimensional stability. Because polycarbonate is an engineering resin, it requires more care and attention in processing than commodity resins. How are leading manufacturers leveraging polycarbonate and skill base to meet their production and business objectives? Agenda: The properties that make polycarbonate an attractive choice for material selection Considerations for part design Best practices for processing equipment and functionality — from pellet to final part How to troubleshoot defects Case studies and examples of success using polycarbonate

On Demand
Embracing Additive Manufacturing for Conformal Cooling
Injection molding is one of the most widely used manufacturing methods due to its ability to produce high-quality parts at incredibly high volumes. However, the productivity of these processes is often limited by the cooling methods that removes heat from the part after molding. Advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have opened the door for new approaches suitable for production molding. Modern conformal cooling approaches achieved through these AM techniques offer the potential for breakthrough solutions. This webinar will explore the cutting-edge advancements in these technologies that enable the design and production of intricately-tailored cooling channels within injection molding tooling. During this session, SyBridge Technologies will discuss its approach to design, simulate and test novel cooling structures to improve injection molding tooling performance from cycle time to warp.

On Demand
Optimizing Thermal Management in the Molding Process
DME will highlight the factors that can reduce thermal transfer over time and cause the mold temperature to stray beyond its established control limits—making it difficult to control the molding process. Recommendations are shared on how to best maintain the thermal transfer coefficient through the implementation of specific predictive maintenance measures.

On Demand
Cost-Effective Metal Part Production: Metal 3D Printing Cost Comparison
It has a reputation for being expensive, but it that a true apples-to-apples comparison? And how does the equation change if metal 3D printing is being evaluated as a complementary (instead of competitive) method? Join FreeFORM Technologies and Desktop Metal for this webinar exploring how metal 3D printing compares to traditional manufacturing methods through a detailed comparison of metal injection molding and metal binder jetting. With both technologies in-house, FreeFORM is positioned to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of traditional versus additive manufacturing methods. Together, both companies will walk through cost modeling to discover where the breakeven is on volume and cost that makes metal 3D printing cost-effective. Agenda: Learn where binder jetting fits and how it supports the product lifecycle curve as production ramps and declines throughout a product lifecycle Explore the factors that impact cost breakdowns (such as material and tooling) and provide examples to compare costing models at various production volumes of each method Compare the design considerations, process steps and end-part material properties

On Demand
Driving the Best Return on Investment in Today's Moldmaking Market
In this presentation, Maruka USA—well-known for designing and installing advanced moldmaking solutions—will discuss the current state of the moldmaking market, how to introduce operational improvements and machining practices that increase moldmaking production while lowering costs to achieve the optimal return on investment. Agenda: State of the moldmaking market Improving your production processes Introducing automation into your moldmaking Positioning your shop for success

On Demand
Using Hot Runner Balance in the Mold Qualification Process Register Now
Videos See All

Molding Equipment
StackTeck establishes iMFLUX Center of Excellence
StackTeck has adopted the iMFLUX process to control the injection molding process for PCR projects that bring material viscosity challenges.

NPE
NPE2024 and the Economy: What PLASTICS' Pineda Has to Say
PLASTICS Chief Economist Perc Pineda shares his thoughts on the economic conditions that will shape the industry as we head into NPE2024.

Harbour Results, Wipfli Complete Collective Transaction
Collaborative union will provide access to expanded services and a broader suite of advisory and integrated solutions in the manufacturing sphere.

Cutting Tools
Internal Coolant Live Tools Address More Productive Deep-Hole Drilling
Straight, 90-degree and universal live tools featuring a coolant-thru option are now available for all popular machine tool brands through Platinum Tooling.

Workforce Development
Eden Tool and Eden Manufacturing: A Story of Resilience, Growth and Innovation
This critical parts manufacturer, founded on solid tooling fundamentals, didn’t get derailed with the unexpected passing of the owner because leadership was already building a solid business, not just a good tool shop. Here’s how they managed change incrementally… and they’re not finished yet.

Mold Materials
Stainless Steel Grades Eliminate Complex Machining Challenges
Unlike traditional stainless steel, Swiss Steel’s Ugima-X martensitic and duplex steels feature good machinability high reproducibility.
Events See All

6 May 2024
NPE2024: The Plastics Show
Every three years, leaders from almost every major industry gather at NPE to advance their businesses through innovations in plastics. The largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE offers six technology zones, keynote speakers, workshops and opportunities to build partnerships.

8 May 2024
AM Workshop - 3D Printing for Plastic Processors
The 3D Printing Workshop @ NPE2024 – The Plastics Show, is an immersive, half-day workshop focused on the emerging possibilities for part production via 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology, the 3D Printing Workshop will build upon a successful model first introduced at IMTS 2014. Attendees will benefit from a program focused on practical applications of 3D technologies related to plastics processing. This event will conclude with a 3D Printing Industry Reception sponsored by Additive Manufacturing Media.

9 Sep 2024
IMTS 2024

10 Sep 2024
Parts Cleaning Conference at IMTS 2024
Debuting in 2010, the Parts Cleaning Conference is the leading and most trusted manufacturing and industrial parts cleaning forum focused solely on delivering quality technical information in the specialized field of machined parts cleansing. Providing guidance and training to understand the recognized sets of standards for industrial cleaning, every year the Conference showcases industry experts who present educational sessions on the latest and most pressing topics affecting manufacturing facilities today. Discover all that the 2022 Parts Cleaning Conference has to offer!

12 Sep 2024
AM Workshop - 3D Printing for Job Shops
Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology, the 3D Printing Workshop at IMTS 2024 is a chance for job shops to learn the emerging possibilities for part production via 3D printing and additive manufacturing. First introduced at IMTS 2014, this workshop has helped hundreds of manufacturing professionals expand their additive capabilities.

8 Apr 2025
Formnext Chicago 2025
Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).
Suppliers See All

Additive Manufacturing

Automation

Business Development & Strategies

CAD/CAM and Other Software

Cutting Tools and Toolholders

EDM Equipment and Supplies

Hot Runner Systems and Supplies

Inspection & Measurement

Machining Centers and Machine Tools

Maintenance, Repair and Surface Treatment

Mold Components

Mold Materials

Moldmaking Equipment and Accessories

Molds/Tools/Dies

Services
Basics/101 See All

FAQ
Obscure CNC Features That Can Help (or Hurt) You
You cannot begin to take advantage of an available feature if you do not know it exists. Conversely, you will not know how to avoid CNC features that may be detrimental to your process.

Basics
Best of Fattori, Tooling Know How
In this collection of articles Jim Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

FAQ
How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Extruder for Mixing: Part 5
Understand the differences between distributive and dispersive mixing, and how you can promote one or the other in your screw design.

FAQ
How to Customize an Interoperable Software Solution for Your Moldmaking Process
A connected software solution streamlines the moldmaking process by providing a unified source of design data, enhancing efficiency and reducing errors, with five key steps benefiting from this integration.

Five Axis
How to Implement Five-Axis Mold Machining for Higher Productivity, Versatility
Understanding the basics of five-axis capabilities justifies the investment, but exploring all the multi-axis machine benefits and approaches enhances the return on investment.

Automotive
4 Tips for Staying Profitable in the Face of Change
After more than 40 years in business, this shop has learned how to adapt to stay profitable.
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NPE 2 May 2024

NPE2024 and the Economy: What PLASTICS' Pineda Has to Say
Cutting Tools 1 May 2024

Internal Coolant Live Tools Address More Productive Deep-Hole Drilling
Workforce Development 1 May 2024

Eden Tool and Eden Manufacturing: A Story of Resilience, Growth and Innovation
Tool Steel 30 Apr 2024

Stainless Steel Grades Eliminate Complex Machining Challenges
Automotive 30 Apr 2024

Project Reveals Added Benefits of New P20 Grade Steel in Machinability, Cycle Time and No Stress Relief
Design & Mfg. Software 29 Apr 2024

CAM Software Enhances 3+2-Axis Toolpath Programming
29 Apr 2024

Products to Advance Your Mold Shop
NPE 26 Apr 2024

Cooling, Mold Temperature Control Solutions Augment Energy, Water Savings
NPE 26 Apr 2024

Emerging Technologies at NPE2024: Exhibit Previews
NPE 25 Apr 2024

Plastic Injection Molder Debuts EOAT, Mold Monitoring Solutions

Mold Materials

Mold Materials 5 Mar 2024

Corrosion-Resistant Mold Steel Designed For Polishability

NPE2024: Uddeholm showcases its Tyrax ESR mold steel that combines toughness, corrosion and wear resistance.

Mold Materials 28 Feb 2024

Tight-Tolerance, 100% Recyclable Steel Plate Processing

Steel 21 strives to make mold builders more efficient with flat, parallel and more sustainable steel plate grades for plastic injection and compression molds.

Mold Materials 26 Feb 2024

Sintered, Porous Mold Steel Eliminates Gas Buildup

Molder’s World highlights its acclaimed Vortex self-venting mold steel, which uses a system of microscopic, interconnected pores to optimize molding processes.

Mold Materials 19 Feb 2024

Ellwood Specialty Steel Becomes Ellwood Specialty Metals

Integrated producer of tool steel adds Ellwood Aluminum cast house into the Ellwood family of companies to serve both metal needs.

Mold Materials 7 Dec 2023

How is an Aluminum Mold Energy-Efficient?

Nine ways aluminum molds save energy and production costs.

Aluminum 4 Dec 2023

Cast Plate Aluminum Alloy is Suitable for Production Mold and Dies

Alimex Precision in Aluminum introduces its 7000 series ACP7 mold material, featuring high mechanical properties, material stability and good machinability.

Additive Manufacturing 4 Dec 2023

MoldMaking Technology's Hottest Tips of 2023

The staff at MoldMaking Technology prides ourselves on bringing you the most helpful, relevant tips in the industry. Here are the top five most-viewed tips of 2023 based on Google Analytics.

Mold Materials 13 Oct 2023

Five Benefits of Aluminum Tooling

Aluminum molds are worth a second look as a viable means to swiftly and cost-effectively get products to market.

Mold Materials 9 Oct 2023

Moldmaking-Related Technology Highlights

This month’s tech roundup highlights mold materials and other miscellaneous technologies for moldmaking needs.

Mold Materials 22 Sep 2023

Micro-Milled Steel Plate Cuts Mold Build Times by 10-15%

Steel 21 emphasizes its tighter tolerances, improved surface quality and speed of processing using the patented “21 Micro Milling” process.

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