Selecting Injection Molds

This book explains to the mold designer the importance of knowing the expected productivity of the mold and how this information affects the cost of the planned mold and the cost of the molded product. It suggests many approaches to reduce mold cost and also to improve productivity by often just simple design changes. Above all, it emphasizes again and again that the ultimate goal is not to procure the lowest cost but to produce the lowest cost product.

The Cost Analysis of Plastic Injection Molds is a complete step-by-step guide of the different stages of the cost estimation process. In addition, this book highlights the applicable considerations needed during the selection of plastic injection molds. This book is recommended for those searching for a straightforward understanding of attaining the final cost of a plastic injection mold. Readers looking to learn and/or improve their understanding of the technical and financial considerations to assess a cost efficient selection of a plastic injection mold will find this book a valuable resource of information. This book was born with the expectation of closing the gap between technical and non-technical professionals, who are facing the challenge of understanding the final price for a cost effective plastic injection mold.

An injection mold is the heart of any plastics molding workcell. Understanding the principles of an injection mold design and its importance to a successful plastic part is fundamental to the success of the product. This book helps guide the designer, engineer, project manager, and production manager in making sure that the injection mold to be designed will work as intended. This book will take the reader through the process of conceptualizing and designing an injection mold that will produce the desired plastic part. Since it all starts with the plastic part, the book will first focus on key features and details of the plastic part which are necessary for good mold design. The design of the main components of an injection mold will be discussed and good design practices will be shared. Finally the process of testing and gaining customer acceptance of the mold for production will be detailed. A comprehensive appendix and detailed drawings will provide the required detail for completing a mold design.

Economic success in the plastics processing industry depends on the quality, precision, and reliability of its most common tool: the injection mold. Consequently, misjudgments in design and mistakes in the manufacturing of molds can result in grave consequences. This comprehensive handbook for the design and manufacture of injection molds covers all aspects of how to successfully make injection molds from a practical as well as from a theoretical point of view. It should serve as an indispensable reference work for everyone engaged in mold making. "...an example of how books should be written ... will be used by molders, mold designers and mold makers and will become a standard." (Polymer News) Contents: · Materials for Injection Molds · Mold Making Techniques · Estimating Mold Costs · The Injection Molding Process · Design of Runner Systems · Design of Gates · Venting of Molds · Heat Exchange System · Shrinkage · Mechanical Design · Shifting of Cores · Ejection · Alignment and Changing of Molds · Computer-Aided Mold Design and Construction · Maintenance of Injection Molds · Measuring in Injection Molds · Temperature Controllers · Mold Standards · Correction of Molding Defects · Special Processes - Special Molds

The second book in the Plastic Injection Molding series addresses the basics and the fine points of plastics materials and product design phases of the thermoplastic injection molding process. Complex technical matter is presented in clear, sequential narrative bites.

This book provides a vision and structure to finally synergize all the engineering disciplines that converge in the mold design process. The topics are presented in a top-down manner, beginning with introductory definitions and the "big picture" before proceeding to layout and detailed design of molds. The book provides very pragmatic analysis with worked examples that can be readily adapted to "real world" mold design applications. It should help students and practitioners to understand the inner workings of injection molds and encourage them to think "outside the box" in developing innovative and highly functional mold designs. Contents: · Introduction to mold functions, types, and components · Review of design for injection molding · Cost estimation and optimization · Mold layout design including cavity layout, sizing, and materials selection · Cavity, runner system, and gating analysis and design · Cooling system analysis and design · Venting, shrinkage, and warpage analysis and strategies · Ejection force analysis and ejection system designs · Stress and deflection analysis with structural system designs · A survey of advanced mold designs