Friday 19 December 2014

How To Choose The Right Hot Runner System?

When the decision has been made to incorporate a hot runner system into a mold, the question that promptly surfaces is as to what attributes must be taken into consideration? With the many independent suppliers in the market the types and choices of systems are often in resemblance with one system to another. In such a scenario how to opt for the right hot runner system, let’s find out.

Hot runner technology comes with diverse options. In order to accrue molding efficiencies and part quality benefits there are cases where price take precedence over application. Following are some hot runner features and supplier support aspects to consider before making a purchasing decision:

1. After Sale Service
 

In addition to sales, it is important to assure that whether the supplier offer product service, training and start-up assistance or not. These follow-ups are important for an effective installation.

2. Product Range Offerings

In order to achieve the optimum system for molding application and to maximize design flexibility, the supplier must offer an extensive nozzle range of hot tips, valve and edge gates, hot sprues, multi-tips, etc.

3. Resin Testing 

Check out for fully equipped resin testing or R&D facility in order to assist the OEM or mold maker in choosing the best hot runner system type. Furthermore, there should be a balance of resin flow, channel sizing and various other design capabilities to produce a thermally balanced hot runner system. In such a system runners are large enough to give a relatively small pressure drop through the system without causing too much residence time while casting an injection mould.

4. Ease of Maintenance 

At last, ease of maintenance defines the level of system’s sustenance. Your runner installation decision should answer the following questions:

  • Can the gates be cleaned in the machine? 
  • Can wear items such as nozzle tips, thermocouples and heater bands be replaced without removing the mold from the machine? 
  • Can the valve stems in valve-gated systems be adjusted or replaced in the molding machine? 

All these tips are helpful while installing a hot runner system to enhance injection moulding processes. Use of a hot runner system can increase overall molding efficiency by reducing cycle time (easy maintenance), energy and material costs.

Wednesday 5 November 2014

Hot Runner Technology In Molding

An introduction

The Hot Runner Technology (HRT) is an advanced and applied technology. The technique is lucrative more in injection molding. Certain providers of hot runner system noida have contributed to a great deal in optimization of product quality.

The hot runner technology lends a great deal of efficiency by increasing production, utilizing raw material, being energy effective and cutting down on the cost of production. Read on to find out how the hot runner technology in injection mold has been beneficial to the pet perform manufacturers in India. Several design instances technology in injection mold has supported the suitability of hot runner system.

It is important to note that the technology is applicable to the injection molds alone and not to all kind of plastic molds. However, hot runner system is applicable for a few types of thermoplastics.

Advantages of HRT

- Materials cost effective— no need to regrind or reprocess.  Less costly material  cost
- Lowering down energy costs, short and cycle times as there is no need to wait for   runners to cool down
- The small size of machines and reduced shot volume into runners
- The runners need not to be separated from the parts, the processing is automated Gates are stationed at the best of the strategic position for optimized economical design
- No runners to remove or regrind, thus no secondary work is needed
- Lower injection pressures
- Less clamping pressure
- Reduced cooling time
- Shot size reduced
- Cleaner and well maintained molding process
- Consistently constant  heat within the cavity

Disadvantages of HRT

- Hot runner molds are more complex and expensive to build than cold runner molds
- Escalated initial start-up costs than for cold runner systems
- Jeopardize sensitivity of materials causing thermal damage
- Extended temperature control is required which leads to delay in mold processing
- Higher maintenance costs which is more susceptible to breakdowns and heating   element failure

Wednesday 6 August 2014

What Happened When Mould Making Met System Engineering?

By many, system engineering and mould making are referred to as two sides of the same coin. The discipline of applied science lets students invent new items and techniques for doing a particular job. Likewise, invention is the heart and soul of mouldmaking. Hence, there has to be some connection between mouldmaking and system engineering. Read on to explore...

An example to explain the close affair between systemized engineering and mouldmaking

At present, the market for trim panels that are used in a car’s interior is large.  Use of a high-quality injection mould is done to manufacture the best-in-class automotive trim panels. The plasticised trim panels for a car’s interior have to be both stylish and functional. Surfaces of interior automotive trim panels have to be appealing as finished panels become the Unique Selling Point (USP) for most cars.

 In addition, devotion as well as attention is given to a car’s instrument panel, dashboard, headliner, inner door panels, etc.  The trim panels have to be relentlessly redesigned to introduce freshness in a car’s interior. The mouldmaking for trim panels is complex, speedy and innovative.  Many trim panel mouldmakers bank upon the concepts of the discipline for being:-

•    Innovative
•    Fast paced
•    Able to carry out complex detailing

Mould designers who are and aren’t in support of system engineering

Most mouldmakers believe that system engineering must be left to the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Those mouldmakers who don’t want to tweak their working process never endorse system engineering.

Nevertheless, a few forward-thinking mouldmakers opine that a small, significant portion of system engineering will play a pivotal role in the overall business. The discipline helps in making the overall process of mouldmaking highly innovative. Further, every contemporary mould designer believes that the engineering principles help in expounding the scope of moulding. Also, mould designers require the discipline’s principles to manufacture injection-moulded parts in no time.

Let’s clear the air between systemized integration and engineering

Mixing the principles of system integration and engineering helps improve communication, thus, resulting in excellent mould manufacturing.  Let’s clear the difference of the meanings of the two terms.

•    Systemized integration

System integration helps in connecting actual/physical assets of a company. The process joins the entire factory floor system – machining, testing, assembly as well as packaging – that’s used in manufacturing. System integration is defined as the physical counterpart of systemized engineering.

•    Systemized engineering

The discipline is multifaceted. Mouldmakers use the engineering discipline to determine a client’s requirements in the very beginning (while designing development cycle) of the process.  Systemized technology helps mould designers understand requirements (technical as well as business) of a client.

The joining of systemized engineering along with integration is strategic. Blending the two approaches helps mouldmakers design high-quality injection moulds for ASB Machines and other specialized equipment.

Joining both the concepts with mouldmaking proves to lessen the complexity of the process. A moulding process’ complexity rises whenever technological shifts take place. Combining the principles of engineering and integration helps mouldmakers grapple with such dramatic technological shifts.

Tuesday 5 August 2014

What Happened When Mould Making Met System Engineering?

By many, system engineering and mould making are referred to as two sides of the same coin. The discipline of applied science lets students invent new items and techniques for doing a particular job. Likewise, invention is the heart and soul of mouldmaking. Hence, there has to be some connection between mouldmaking and system engineering. Read on to explore...

An example to explain the close affair between systemized engineering and mouldmaking

At present, the market for trim panels that are used in a car’s interior is large.  Use of a high-quality injection mould is done to manufacture the best-in-class automotive trim panels. The plasticised trim panels for a car’s interior have to be both stylish and functional. Surfaces of interior automotive trim panels have to be appealing as finished panels become the Unique Selling Point (USP) for most cars.

 In addition, devotion as well as attention is given to a car’s instrument panel, dashboard, headliner, inner door panels, etc.  The trim panels have to be relentlessly redesigned to introduce freshness in a car’s interior. The mouldmaking for trim panels is complex, speedy and innovative.  Many trim panel mouldmakers bank upon the concepts of the discipline for being:-

•    Innovative
•    Fast paced
•    Able to carry out complex detailing

Mould designers who are and aren’t in support of system engineering

Most mouldmakers believe that system engineering must be left to the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Those mouldmakers who don’t want to tweak their working process never endorse system engineering.

Nevertheless, a few forward-thinking mouldmakers opine that a small, significant portion of system engineering will play a pivotal role in the overall business. The discipline helps in making the overall process of mouldmaking highly innovative. Further, every contemporary mould designer believes that the engineering principles help in expounding the scope of moulding. Also, mould designers require the discipline’s principles to manufacture injection-moulded parts in no time.

Let’s clear the air between systemized integration and engineering

Mixing the principles of system integration and engineering helps improve communication, thus, resulting in excellent mould manufacturing.  Let’s clear the difference of the meanings of the two terms.

•    Systemized integration

System integration helps in connecting actual/physical assets of a company. The process joins the entire factory floor system – machining, testing, assembly as well as packaging – that’s used in manufacturing. System integration is defined as the physical counterpart of systemized engineering.

•    Systemized engineering

The discipline is multifaceted. Mouldmakers use the engineering discipline to determine a client’s requirements in the very beginning (while designing development cycle) of the process.  Systemized technology helps mould designers understand requirements (technical as well as business) of a client.

The joining of systemized engineering along with integration is strategic. Blending the two approaches helps mouldmakers design high-quality injection moulds for ASB Machines and other specialized equipment.

Joining both the concepts with mouldmaking proves to lessen the complexity of the process. A moulding process’ complexity rises whenever technological shifts take place. Combining the principles of engineering and integration helps mouldmakers grapple with such dramatic technological shifts.

Thursday 24 April 2014

Future Of Injection Moulding Is Metal Injection Moulding

In the previous decade, both large and small injection moulding companies have witnessed shifting sands in the global business environment. Changes that tweak the moulding business environment are cost pressure from clients and relentless efforts to improve the productivity. Presently, more and more companies invest in cutting-edge tooling, automotive equipment and moulding machinery to gain competitive edge. Companies are hailing innovative, fresh assembly solutions at the moulding phase.

One such innovative moulding method is Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) that was introduced in the ‘70s. The beginning of MIM was a trifle shaky as the technology underwent several years of de-bugging. However, while ushering the 21st century, several moulding experts used the technology for overcoming their economic woes. 

Reasons that point MIM to be the future
  •     The technique has a market of $ 1 billion per annum
  •     The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the technique is slated to be 20 percent
  •     Such an exceptional growth of the technology is due to its cost-saving nature
  •     MIM cuts down the wastage of raw materials, which is common in conventional moulding
  •     The cycle time of MIM is reduced by 50 percent from that found in conventional moulding
MIM has become the primary growth factor for many technical players, belonging to firearm and medical sectors.  Also, the technology is accepted by Pet Preform Manufacturers in India churning out pet bottle moulds.




Which all sectors cherish MIM technique?
  •  Several firearm manufacturers herald the technology for manufacturing high volumes of sophisticated  weaponry. The technology saves oodles of resources that could be otherwise spent over high-priced gunsmithing and machining.
  •  Medical Equipment Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are utilizing the wonders of MIM   technique owing to its capacity to minimize cost.

The socioeconomic and microeconomic benefits of MIM make it an ideal solution to offer more value to clients.
For More Info Visit Us : www.ashishtools.co.in

Saturday 22 March 2014

Everything About Plastic Injection Molding



Most products used on an everyday basis never get a thought from a layperson about their making. As a rule, nearly every article is made using plastics, glass, metals and rubbers. However different the material of production may be, the process remains the same – injection molding. Among all such materials of construction, the most common one is plastic.

The evolution of plastic injection molding industry  

At present, close to thirty million tons plastic are manufactured on a day-to-day basis. The significance of plastic as a material for construction is due to its high availability; almost 60,000 variants of this material are manufactured at present.

However, the prosperity of injection molding technique began with the innovation of resins such as Styrene, K Resin and Nylon 6/6. Another factor that propelled the growth of this molding technique was the manufacturing of ultraviolet inhibitors and different additive colors. 

In 1980s, the plastic material was given prominence with the development of horizontal injection molding machinery. With the beginning of high-end vertical mold machines and hybrids molding systems, it became possible to manufacture plastic products with unimaginable contours and tight dimensional tolerances. In the past, the process of molding was daunting and accounted for several injuries. However, the development of technology (such as robotic controls and hydraulics) has helped the process become safer with each passing day.

How plastic molding industry got better?

Notwithstanding the wonders of plastic injection molding, the procedure drew flak from several green revolutionists due to the material it used. However, large shares of revenue and energy are spent to make plastic environmentally more acceptable.

With the fruitful attempts to make plastic recycling possible, the entire process of injection molding has become efficient. The developments of high-strength thermosetting polymers have helped enhance the durability by leaps and bounds. Several pet bottle moulds are made from thermosetting polymers to increase their strength and capacity to withstand high temperature.

Apart from injection molding, one of the most common techniques used for manufacturing hollowed plastic products is blow moulding. Presently, innovative plastics are introduced to make possible impeccable precision and close-tolerances in the final product.


Thursday 13 March 2014

What is Scientific Injection Molding?


There has been an upsurge in the demand of dimensionally stable as well as accurate parts and components in the medical sector. Several medical component manufacturers have examined the developments in injection molding and are keen to incorporate the technique for quick production of dimensionally precise medical equipment. Whether it is tight tolerance or thin wall, each of the demanding characteristics of medical components can be catered by a type of injection molding known as Scientific Injection Molding (SIM).

The SIM is an attempt to make the most of the current injection molding procedure. The Scientific injection molding can work with the conventional materials such as thermoplastic materials and other unconventional substance such as silicone rubber, thermoset plastics, high consistency rubber, and the like.

Why scientific injection molding is not a fixed process?

The process of SIM is variable. It depends upon the nature of the manufactured medical device. A little tribal knowledge and past practices help in further tweaking the existing molding procedure. The fine-tuning of the existing injection molding continues until the desired specification of a product has been met. However, building a robust SIM is a time-consuming procedure and requires process engineers to take into consideration several factors such as:-
  • PET preform mold design/construction
  • Part design
  • Process parameters (mold temperature, injection speed, melting temperature, hold pressure, cooling time, etc.) 
  • The molding machinery at work
  • The nature (including viscosity) of the material to be used

How SIM and lean manufacturing are related?

For many industrial players – especially the ones believing in lean manufacturing – scientific injection molding has become a culture. Lean manufacturing and SIM are interrelated as both emphasize on eliminating waste (such as downtime, over processing, defective products, excess inventory, to mention a few) and, thus, reducing the overall cost.

SIM is a data-driven approach based on thorough scientific analysis of the prevailing molding process. Several PET preform manufacturers are developing high-quality single stage Mould that is apt to be used in a scientific injection molding.