Regular mould maintenance can help your mould to last longer, to run with less interruptions, and will save you time, money, and frustration in the long run.
The amount and frequency of maintenance is determined by several factors:
Mould Material : Aluminum or soft tools will
suffer wear and tear in a shorter period of time than tools made of
conventional tool steel.
Part Material: Plastic materials that have
fillers are especially abrasive and will tend to wash away the mold steel after
thousands of cycles. Also plastic with a high melt temperature causes
more wear than those with low melt temperatures. Higher melt temperatures
expose the mold to more heat and enhance material wear. Some materials
give off excessive of residue or even corrosive gasses requiring more regular
mold cleaning.
Mold Complexity: Molds with intricate
mechanisms or parts requiring unusually high tolerances will require more
maintenance than a simple open & shut mold, making a low tolerance part.
Slides, lifters, moving cores, hydraulic and mechanical systems, hot runners,
complex ejector systems or mechanisms with delicate components all add to the
maintenance required.
Abuse: Moulds can be abused by excessive
clamp pressures, high injection pressures, over-packing/flashing the part,
jerking the mold open and closed, not lubricating the appropriate components,
multiple ejection, crashing the mold closed or closing up on partially ejected
parts are all sure to cause excess wear and tear on your mold.
Basic Mould Maintenance:
Clean mold cavities with a gentle
solvent
Use compressed air to blow out dust, debris and water
Be sure that the entire mold is completely dry before storage.
Check runners, sprues and all other areas of the mold.
Inspect mold hardware and connectors
Note the date and extent of your mold maintenance steps
Inspect
ejection pins and mechanisms
Good time to ensure that all ejection components are sufficiently lubricated
The more complex your ejection mechanism, the more involved this step should be
Inspect all mold components
This involves checking springs, valves, O-rings, gaskets and other intricate
mold components, and replacing them as necessary.
