Prototype plastic injection molds produce real injection molded parts for functional testing. They can also serve as bridge tooling to fill the manufacturing gap for production tooling. Prototype molding is built quickly; the part has the shape and functionality a plastic prototype part would need for testing form, fit and function, but may not have fine details like color preference or surface finish. Prototype molds are warrantied for up to 10,000 cycles.
Injection Mold Classification
For the plastics industry, thermoplastic mold plastic injection are divided into three general categories: prototype injection mold, production molds and high-volume molds.
It is a fundamental step that can occur before final production molds can be made. Prototype injection molds are used to determine the properties of the resin, the mold shrinkage, gate preparation, dimensional accuracy of the mold plastic part, process conditions, and molding cycle. Occasionally prototype plastic mold parts can be used for initial market testing. The prototype molded parts are used for quality control tests on the product and can also be used as part of an in-house quality assurance program.
This production mold uses a standard base for housing on and to construct cavities with hardened tool steel; this mold should provide for a rapid production rate and provide easy repair and allow for a vent system to allow air to escape during the molding cycle.
Additionally, the production mold must have an automatic ejection system and a mold temperature control, which are required to ensure consistent cooling, thus ensuring minimum cycle times, minimum costs, and consistent quality.
High-volume production molds should have all the advantages of production tools, including multiple cavities and fully interchangeable mold components. They should be designed for easy maintenance and be able to withstand adverse external forces.
Can be overcome through careful planning for mold design and construction, customizing a preventative maintenance program, and protecting the steel surface from corrosion and erosion.