What are the parts of a mold assembly?

Mold components are what make the mold work and the mechanisms used to deliver a quality end product. Key components include mold bases, pins, ejectors, lifters, bushings, guides and alignment devices.

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Mold components can be broken down into three categories: frame plates, frame components, and cavity tooling.

Frame or base plates consist of the individual mold plates which can be seven plates in a stripper plate mold or even up to twenty plates or more, depending on the size and complexity. Frame components include all tooling that is within the frame that does not form the part. This includes guide or leader pins, bushings, return pins, interlocks, bolts, and seals. Tooling that may also be included in this category is ejector pins. Cavity tooling is the most critical and expensive tooling of a mold because it determines dimensional and aesthetic part features. It includes the cavities, cores, sleeves, and pins that directly form the part.

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There are several parts of an injection mold, each with specific functionality and role in the injection molding process.

Mold Base

The mold base is one of the most critical injection molding parts. Its other names are mold plate or mold frame. This part serves as the basic infrastructure for the entire mold assembly. It provides strength and rigidity against the intense pressures of the injection molding process.

Moreover, the mold case acts as a central piece for integrating other components of the injection molding setup like the feeding unit and cooling system. As part of this role, the mold case ensures that all components align together precisely. Hence, its accurate production has a direct bearing on the accuracy of the part.

Cavity

The cavity is one half of the mold which shapes the external features of the part. By external features, we mean the features that are visible to the user. Thus, the cavity is the component of the mold that gives the part its surface finish and external texture.

The cavity can be mounted on either the moving side or the stationary side of the mold.

Core

The core is the other half of the mold. It is responsible for creating internal features such as holes and recesses. The surface finish may not be the top concern for this side due to the internal features, but it is pertinent to mention here that this is not a hard and fast rule.

What is important, though, are design decisions like the draft angle to ensure smooth ejection from the mold.

Inserts

Inserts are special injection mold components that are separately placed inside the cavity to create specific geometric features in the molded part. They are individual components. That is, they are not a part of the core and cavity halves of the mold.

Before the molding process begins, an operator places the insert at its location inside the mold cavity. It may require supporting fixtures to hold them in place. The mold then closes over it, and the injection process begins.

Inserts can be plastic mold components or metallic if strength is necessary. Typically, their main functions include creating threads in the part, specific surface features or textures, and reinforcing certain mold components.

Nozzle & Sprue Bushing

The sprue bushing and nozzle act as the interface between the mold and the feeding system. This is the entry point of the molten plastic into the mold.

The nozzle is like a pipe with a cross-section that gets narrow as it gets closer to the exit point (into the mold gate system). The sprue bushing is the component that holds the nozzle in place and ensures its alignment and centering.

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These components are important parts of an injection mold. The nozzle regulates the flow of molten plastic into the mold, ensuring that it enters the mold at the correct pressure and speed. Furthermore, it also makes the flow laminar, allowing it to exit smoothly into the cavity.

Moreover, this portion of the injection mold also minimizes the formation of air gaps inside the molten metal. It keeps injecting molten metal into the cavity until most of the air inside the cavity exits the system via the venting system.

Runner System

The sprue bushing injects the molten plastic into the runner system. This is a distribution network that guides molten plastic to the cavity in a seamless, uniform way. Its function becomes very important when multi-cavity molds are used, where the equal and swift distribution of raw material is critical for molding efficiency.

The runner system is like a network of roads to each cavity. At the end of the runner, there are gates, which are key injection mold parts. It is an opening into the actual cavity, from the runner. Its main function is to guarantee a smooth entry of raw material into the cavity, prevent flashing, and maintain uniform pressure.

Ejector Pins

The ejector pins come into play when the molding process ends. After the part solidifies and is ready for ejection, the mold opens. However, due to the pressures and surface tension between the part and the cavity surface, they stick to each other and need a force for proper ejection.

This push comes from the ejector pins. The moving side of the mold carries these ejector pins, which only emerge from its surface when it retracts away from the stationary part. Thus, as it retracts, the pins push the part out of the mold, and it is then ready for another molding cycle.

Ejector pins design is an important aspect of mold production. The design engineer must include a sufficient number of ejection pins to safely share the ejection load. Moreover, since ejector pins come into contact with the part, their surface finish and placement are also matters requiring consideration. Generally, their location is set at points that are not visible on the part.

Cooling System

The cooling system, as the name suggests, is responsible for keeping the temperature of the mold under control. It includes a circuit of cooling channels circulating throughout the different parts of an injection mold. Mainly, they cover the areas in the vicinity of the cavity holding the molten plastic.

Injection molding utilizes water or oil as the cooling media. Water is by far the most popular choice. However, oil is sometimes better for high-temperature applications. Moreover, internal baffles are also sometimes used to increase heat transfer.

Venting System

The venting system is arguably among the critical injection mold components. The cavity is an enclosed space filled with air and gases. These create air pockets in the part, deteriorating its quality and appearance. Moreover, certain plastics also generate compounds that are not healthy for the mold.

There is a network of grooves, channels, and pins in the venting system that facilitate the air escaping the cavity. They are kept very narrow to confine the plastic inside and have minimal effects on the surface finish. Furthermore, engineers place them at possible air entrapment points like the parting line to maximize venting efficiency.

Mold Interlocks

Mold interlocks are injection mold parts that ensure proper locking and alignment of other injection mold components. Mainly, this refers to the cavity and core halves of the mold. Without adequate interlocking, the chances of molding errors like flashing, warping, and dimensional errors increase significantly.

The interlocks can mean a range of locking features in the mold part like pins, grooves, and slots. Their actuation can be mechanical or hydraulic. Hence, there is no specific definition for mold interlocks, but their common purpose is well-understood.

Guiding System

The guiding system ensures that the various injection mold parts assemble with precise alignment. It consists of guiding pins and bushing on the mold halves that fit together to locate the parts with each other.

Owing to its significance in aligning the assembly, tight accuracy and dimensional constraints are placed on their manufacturing.

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