Moulds are the tools used in plastic injection to create the actual plastic product. Our toolmakers with the designs created as part of the design process, to produce the moulds that will be used in the manufacturing process. The mould is then filled with the liquid plastic, which then hardens inside the mould, creating the desired shape.
Most moulds are made from one of four different types of materials.
Hardened steel – used where long mould life is needed and where high volume runs are required. This is the most expensive option.
Pre-hardened steel – used for lower volume runs or for larger components.
Aluminium – an economical metal ideal for smaller runs of up to a few hundred thousand parts.
Beryllium-Copper Alloy – when you need fast heat removal of for areas that see the most shear heat generated.
Our team can work with you to determine the most economical mould material for your particular project.
Once a decision on the best material is made, our toolmakers mark out the raw materials and then shape your mould using CAD machines.
We use both CNC machines that quickly create accurate complex mould designs, as well as Electrical Discharge Machines (EDM), which are ideal for shapes that are difficult to machine using traditional means. EDM allows pre-hardened moulds to be shaped without the use of heat treatments. We can also create moulds using traditional manual machines where needed.
Simply contact us for a quote on your next project.