How to protection and maintenance mold ?Proper protection and maintenance of molds are essential to ensure their longevity and to produce high-quality parts consistently.
As the most important molding equipment for the processing of injection moulding products in the manufacturing industry, the quality of the mold is directly related to the quality of the product. In addition, since the mold accounts for a large proportion of the production cost of injection molding, its service life directly affects the product cost. Therefore, improving the quality of the mold, properly protecting and maintaining it, and extending its life cycle are important weights for the injection molding product processing industry to reduce costs and improve efficiency.Here are some steps and best practices for protecting and maintaining molds:
How to protection and maintenance mold
1. Cutting edge must be ground
After the mold is used for a long time, the cutting edge must be ground. After grinding, the cutting edge surface must be demagnetized, and it must not be magnetic, otherwise it is easy to block material. The mold application company needs to record in detail, calculate its use, maintenance (smoothing, cleaning, rust prevention) and damage, so as to find out which parts and components are damaged and the degree of wear, so as to provide information for finding and solving problems. As well as the molding process parameters of the mold and the materials used in the product, in order to shorten the test run time of the mold and improve the production efficiency. The various functions of the mold should be inspected under the normal working conditions of the injection molding machine and the mold, and the specifications of the final molded plastic parts should be measured. The damage location of the system and the parting surface, etc., according to the information provided by the plastic parts, can determine the damage of the mold and the repair method.
2. Replace Springs and other elastic parts
Springs and other elastic parts are easily damaged during use, and cracking and deformation usually occur. The method used is to replace. During the replacement process, we must pay attention to the specification and type of the spring. The specification and type of the spring are confirmed by three items of color, outer diameter and length, and can only be replaced when the three items are the same. . The quality of the imported spring is better.
3. Mold Storage
Clean the mold thoroughly before storage to remove any residual materials, grease, or contaminants.
Apply a light coating of rust inhibitor or a suitable mold release agent to protect against corrosion during storage.
Store molds in a clean, dry, and controlled environment with consistent temperature and humidity levels.
After production runs, store molds in a clean and dry environment.Protect molds from dust and contaminants by covering them.Keep molds elevated or on racks to prevent moisture buildup.
4. Handling
Always use proper lifting equipment and techniques when handling molds to prevent damage or injury.
Inspect the mold for any visible damage before use, such as cracks, dents, or wear.
5. Cleaning
After each use, clean the mold immediately to remove any residual plastic, grease, or release agent.
Use non-abrasive cleaning materials and solvents that are compatible with the mold material.
Be gentle when cleaning to avoid damaging the mold surface.
6. Fasten parts
Check whether the fastening parts are loose or damaged, and the method used is to find parts of the same specification for replacement.
7. Replace punch sleeve
During the use of the mold, the punch is prone to breakage, tortuousness and gnawing, and the punch sleeve is generally gnawed. Damaged punches and sleeves are generally replaced with parts of the same specification. The parameters of the punch mainly include operation part specification, installation part specification, length specification and so on.
8. Lubrication
Apply a suitable mold release agent before each molding cycle to ensure easy part removal and reduce wear on the mold.
Use the recommended type of release agent for the specific plastic material being molded.
9. Inspection
Regularly inspect molds for signs of wear, damage, or corrosion.
Pay attention to critical areas like ejector pins, slides, and cooling channels.
Perform routine maintenance checks to catch any issues early.
10. Preventative Maintenance
Establish a preventative maintenance schedule that includes tasks such as cleaning, lubricating, and tightening mold components.
Replace worn or damaged components promptly to prevent further damage to the mold.
Ensure that cooling channels are clean and free from obstructions to maintain proper temperature control.
11. Professional Maintenance
For complex or critical molds, consider having them professionally maintained and serviced by mold experts.
Periodically inspect molds for alignment and make any necessary adjustments.
12. Training
Ensure that personnel involved in mold maintenance are properly trained in mold care and safety procedures.
Pressing parts such as pressing plate, excellent glue, etc., unloading parts such as stripping plate, pneumatic top material, etc. During maintenance, check the connection of accessories and whether they are damaged, repair the damaged parts, check whether there is air leakage by pneumatic jacking, and take measures for the detailed situation. Replace if trachea is damaged. It is necessary to focus on tracking and testing of several important parts of the mold: the function of ejection and guide parts is to ensure the opening and closing movement of the mold and the ejection of plastic parts. If any part is stuck due to damage, it will lead to production stoppage, so it should always be adhered to The smoothness of the mold thimble and guide post (the most suitable lubricant should be used), and regularly check whether the thimble and guide post are deformed and surface damaged. Once found, they should be replaced in time; after a production cycle is completed, the surface of the mold should be cleaned , Movement, and guide parts are coated with professional anti-rust oil, and special attention should be paid to the protection of the elastic strength of the bearing parts with gears, rack molds and spring molds to ensure that they are always in the best working condition; as the production time continues, The cooling channel is easy to accumulate scale, rust, silt and algae, which makes the cross-section of the cooling channel smaller and the cooling channel narrower, which greatly reduces the heat exchange rate between the coolant and the mold, and increases the production cost of the enterprise. Therefore, the cleaning of the channel should be Attention; for the warm runner mold, the maintenance of the heating and control system is helpful to avoid the occurrence of production problems, so it is particularly important.
By following these steps and implementing a proactive mold maintenance program, you can extend the lifespan of your molds, reduce downtime, and consistently produce high-quality parts. Regular care and attention to detail are essential for mold protection and maintenance.
