Tooling

Mold Hotrunner Solutions (MHS) introduces Rheo-Pro iVG, an innovation the company claims is the world’s most compact back-to-back valve gate hot runner system. The new iVG is the first and only internal valve gate on the market, claims MHS. Its patented design completely “rewrites the rules” of valve gating technology and opens up endless new possibilities for high-cavity stack molds, swivel molds, and multi-material injection molds.

Restriction to flow is the problem of the day.

The K show approaches, fiscal years are closing, and budgets are being prepared; as a result of all of these—plus recovery from the recession—capital investment is on many minds. We have asked experts from some of the industry's leading suppliers to offer their tips on how processors should consider as they buy new or upgrade current equipment. Thanks to Michael Phillips, director of marketing and sales support at Mold-Masters Ltd., for this article.

Hilma-Roemheld GmbH has extended its range of magnetic mold clamping products to include special elements for the processing of plastics at low temperatures and using vertical presses. Four new magnetic clamping plates are designed for working temperatures of up to 80-, 120-, 180-, or 230ºC. Users can select the technology appropriate to their application and adapted to the requirements of the materials to be processed, whether they are thermoplastics, elastomers, thermosets or rubber.

Z Corporation, manufacturer of 3D additive manufacturing technologies, announced its latest effort to make 3D printing available to every designer, engineer, architect and student with the introduction of it new affordable, commercial-class 3D printers. 

While things are picking up and many mold manufacturers are quite busy (and happy about it!), winning profitable jobs is still difficult. As one moldmaker told me recently, "We still fight for every job we get." Selling molds isn't easy, which is why moldmakers might need to take a different tack when it comes to sales. After all, it's not like selling vacuum cleaners!
 

Inmold operations such as labeling, decorating, painting, clear-coating, and even assembly are becoming more common as the technology catches on and catches the attention of OEMs eager to save time and cost-to-manufacture. Zahoransky Formenbau GmbH (Freiburg, Germany) is becoming known for its creative and unique developments with respect to rotationally performing assembly operations. Its newest development is a new option for molding and assembling two different parts in a single cycle within the framework of the mold system.

The 2010 Fall Conference of the American Mold Builders Association is being held in Washington, DC for the third year in a row, and every U.S. moldmaker is encouraged to take the opportunity to meet their elected officials and show them we are serious about the issues impacting American manufacturing, our industry, and our businesses.

With much-anticipated midterm elections looming in November, this is your prime opportunity to let your Senators and Representatives know what we expect them to do to support American manufacturing and small-to-medium businesses.

Most of us in plastics molding accept the fact that mold development is an iterative process—make it, try it, tune it, and repeat that till it’s making good parts. Normal, right? Yes, but maybe normal needs an engineering review.

Methods Machine Tools, Inc., (Sudbury, MA) has debuted a series of high-performance Feeler vertical machining centers incorporating extensive engineering input from Methods. "The rugged, reliable Feeler VMC line is now further enhanced with design and engineering by Methods," says Paul Hurtig, Feeler product manager, Methods Machine Tools, Inc. Feeler machines are manufactured by Taiwan's Fair Friend Group (FFG), one of the world's largest machine-tool builders with major manufacturing operations in Taiwan, China, Japan, and the U.S.