Software Enhances Advancing Technologies
CAD/CAM’s improved features and new capabilities—combined with the latest in technologies like high speed and five-axis machining, new cutting tools and 3-D technologies—allow moldma...
Twelve Techniques for Managing Moldmaking Design Data Effectively
mold manufacturers can address time, cost, quality and global communication challenges by using 3-D CAD software in combination with an integrated product data management system. Efficient data manage...
Making Sense out of Machine Tool Specifications
For many shops, the first step in any machine purchase is to create a spreadsheet that compares the specifications of different machine tools. This spreadsheet typically uses manufacturer-supplied per...
Re-defining Precision
It’s important not to limit the definition of precision to one in particular, but instead expand the definition to three unique precision types: micro precision, ultra precision and nano precisi...
Gas Permeable Mold Steel
The use of venting material in appropriate areas can eliminate gas buildup, reduce injection pressure, lower cycle times, gloss levels and substantially reduce scrap and reject rates. Many of you have...
Using Intelligent Machining Software
Progress in the realm of software offers moldmakers the opportunity to maximize the potential of their machining processes when it comes to maintaining extremely high surface finishes. With the consta...
Compensating for Thermal Expansion to Maintain Part Accuracy
Moldmakers, who must consistently produce very accurate and precise molds, need to learn how to overcome and work with thermal expansion. Parts’ overall accuracy is critical to moldmakers. Compe...
Yuan Zhenghai Team: An Innovation Team on New Technology
A team consists of 17 ordinary workers, named Yuan Zhenghai Team, in Jiangling Motors Corporation has made over 200 technology innovations, and rewritten the history of mould importation. The eng...
Sheet metal CAD/CAM raises productivity further
Radan Computational’s Radan 8.5 sheet metal working CAD/CAM software has a new user interface to maximise material utilisation and reduce cycle times. Radan Computational introduced its Radan 8....
Linear encoders improve machine tool accuracy
Heidenhain has said that machine tools not fitted with linear encoders for positioning may not be accurate enough for the increasingly high performance demands made upon them. At the UK’s MACH 2...
Laser sintering produces tooling inserts
Among plastics and metals powders introduced by EOS for laser sintering, a martensite-hardening steel of high strength and toughness can be used to produce heavy-duty tooling inserts. EOS introduced m...
Vollmer universal machine grinds PCD
Vollmer has introduced a universal tool and cutter grinder that combines eroding, relief grinding, and polishing of PCD tooling using six-axis cutter path interpolation. Vollmer will introduce its QXD...
Time and Money Saved with RP/RT Strategy
Using a variety of rapid prototyping and rapid tooling techniques, 3M was able to bring a new product to market faster and less expensively. 3M is world-renowned for its innovation. With more than 55,...
Automation Is the Bridge Between EDM and Precision Mold Manufacture
The automation route has three key milestones: (1) tooling, (2) palletization and (3) robots, all of which should neatly slot into each other and help govern the speed of change. The increasing pressu...
Value-Added Critical Cleaning of Industrial Molds
If you want to build industrial molds right, you have to clean them right. You have probably put a lot of time and effort into the right design, the right mechanical tools, and the right Q.C. protocol...
New Welding Technologies Grabbed Spotlight at K Show
Greater use of electric servo drives and new hybrid systems incorporating multiple joining methods were recurring themes among the latest plastics welding and assembly equipment introduced at the rece...
What to Do About Weak Weld Lines
Weld or knit lines are perhaps the most common and difficult injection molding defect to eliminate. They occur when melt flow fronts collide in a mold cavity. A poor knit line can cause only cosmetic ...
Bridging the Gap between Prototyping and Final Steel Production Tooling
SL modeling and rapid tooling methods combine to produce durable epoxy injection molds that generate production-quality parts in record time. The benefits of additive technologies for rapid modeling a...
Registration Opens for 2008 TCT, MM Live
Because last year’s TCT event was attended by more than 2,000 visitors, and because strong industry support for the new MM Live exhibition has emerged, the organizer of these co-located trade fa...
Event on Emerging Technologies Is Well Received by GTMA Members
An Emerging Technologies event put on recently by the sponsoring Gauge and Tool Makers Association (GTMA) was a solid success, drawing more than 80 visitors from across the UK. The educational meeting...