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Injection molding need to be tested before production. This is the final step to ensure that the moulds can produce qualified products. The mould testing results directly impact the production and quality of the factory's products. Moulds are precise instruments, and some problems cannot be detected with the naked eye during production. Precise tools need multiple modifications to become qualified, and some small issues must be found and solved before production. During the production process, it is possible for storage and machining issues to occur, so mould testing is necessary to analyze, evaluate, and optimize the samples produced. This ensures high-quality results. Most molding defects occur during the plasticizing and injection stage. To avoid product defects caused by mould design, the mould design and process parameters must be analyzed when making the moulds.
Injection moulds are costly to produce, and the process parameters and mould design can be optimized to produce high-quality results. However, the production cost of the moulds will increase. If the mould structure does not meet the production needs after testing, the mould needs to be modified, which will increase the injection cost beyond budget. For example, some injection moulds are designed well, but the processing technique is not in place. If the best molding technique and injection model are not selected during mould testing, the molding defects will be apparent after production. Similarly, the physical properties of plastics, such as shrinkage rate, can cause similar issues if they are not accurately known.
The process parameters and mould design of precision injection molding can be optimized to produce high-quality results. However, the production cost of the injection molding will increase. If the injection molding structure does not meet the production needs after testing, the injection molding needs to be modified, which will increase the injection cost beyond budget. For example, some injection molding are designed well, but the processing technique is not in place. If the best molding technique and injection model are not selected during mould testing, the molding defects will be apparent after production. Similarly, the physical properties of plastics, such as shrinkage rate, can cause similar issues if they are not accurately known.
The preparations for mould testing must be completed beforehand:
1. Understand the injection products
The engineer needs to understand the product's shape and structure, the easily problematic structures, and the product features beforehand to discover and solve issues during injection molding testing.
2. Prepare the drawings
Before testing, prepare the test drawings. If customers do not provide the drawings, the manufacturer must make them according to the product to produce a 3D model. Measure at least two dimensions with a caliper to ensure timely adjustments are made during testing.
3. Prepare the measuring tools
Prepare appropriate measuring and testing tools based on the size of the drawings to validate the measurements.
4. Familiarize yourself with the properties and processing conditions of raw materials
The engineer should be familiar with the material's properties and can determine if the molding conditions are reasonable on the spot.
5. Issue the mould testing notice
The project engineer issues the mould testing notice according to the product weight, mould properties, size, and conventional requirements. This allows production to allocate suitable machines. The injection molding testing notice must indicate waterway connections and requirements, and mould testing will proceed under optimal conditions.
6. Determine the device
It is also necessary to confirm whether the auxiliary equipment for mold testing, such as the number of water pipes required for the mold, the number and performance of water source interfaces and other basic hardware facilities, can meet the requirements of mold testing, and it is also necessary to prepare a thermometer, etc.
7. Notify relevant participants
Quality personnel need to be notified to participate before injection molding testing, and important molds need to be notified of mold projects, product projects, fitters, and designers to participate. If problems with molds reach the precision moulding company's technical bottleneck, various departments will discuss solutions on the spot.
