Hello everyone, today we're going to talk about the ins and outs of plastic mold manufacturing. Don't underestimate the complexity of a small plastic mold—there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. Recently, our research reporters visited several large mold factories and discovered that modern mold manufacturing is far from the simple “cutting holes in metal blocks” process of the past.
The most critical stage of making plastic mold is the design phase. Engineers now use 3D CAD software for design, meticulously checking even 0.01-millimeter deviations. A master craftsman told me that for smartphone case molds, the surface finish must be smoother than a mirror, requiring a five-axis CNC machine to achieve.
Material selection is also critical. High-quality mold steel can withstand hundreds of thousands of cycles without deformation, while inferior steel may fail after just tens of thousands of cycles. Nowadays, pre-hardened steel is popular, with hardness directly set to HRC 38-42, eliminating the need for post-processing heat treatment.
Processing precision is of utmost importance. Modern slow-wire cutting can control precision within ±0.005 millimeters, equivalent to one-tenth the thickness of a human hair. A boss who makes car lighting molds said that the air conditioning in their workshop must run 24/7 to prevent temperature fluctuations from affecting processing precision.
Lastly, let's talk about the mold testing phase. Experienced craftsmen say that even the best designs must undergo mold testing. Nowadays, they first use 3D printing to create a sample for testing. Only if it passes the test do they proceed with the formal mold production, saving significant rework costs.
In the end, mold manufacturing is a meticulous craft, and every step must be perfected. After all, mold quality directly determines the success or failure of the final plastic product—there's no room for carelessness!
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