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The Benefits of a Quality Mold
The ultimate goal of constructing a mold is to produce quality parts. This goal is much more easily acheived if the proper amount of planning and forethought have gone into the design of the mold that will be used to make those parts. Some of the benefits of having a well designed mold include:
- Simplifies the molding process
- Easier to obtain quality parts
- Reduces cycle times
- Minimizes runner size and weight
- Easier to maintain
- Lasts longer
Using Flow Analysis Tools
During the construction of a mold it is much easier to make changes or modifications early in the process, during design, than after the actual steel has been cut. In fact, certain changes cannot be made after the moldmaker has begun his work. For this reason, Plasticorop utilizes advanced computer simulation software that can graphically display potential weaknesses in the design of a mold before the design is finalized. For example, the software analysis results can help us:
- Determine the proper gate location and size
- Accurately predict the approximate cycle time
- Visualize the actual filling of the part
- Plan for the proper cooling of the mold
- Identify potential part defects (flash, shorts, warp etc.)
- Experiment with different design possibilities
For an illustration, refer to the two pictures shown on this page. The first shows an actual CAD drawing of the part in question and the second shows the graphical results produced by our flow analysis software. In this case, the different colors represent heat gradients as the mold is filled. If the software had detected any potential defects in the part, they would be shown as well.
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