Today, more than ever, plastics are taking the place of many components that used to be made out of metal. Not only are plastics less costly, but they also offer a host of different features from being non-reactive to having a longer life cycle. This is particularly in more challenging environments.
The use of injection molds for metals, thermoplastics and the thermosetting polymers calls for the use of aluminum mold plate. This provides a mold that can be used over a long period of time without any degradation. It also helps to decrease the cost of production while also ensuring all components made with the mold will be virtually identical throughout short and long production runs.
The various elements or features of aluminum mold plate make it an ideal choice for this task. This specific type of plate has optimal strength, machinability, durability and internal stability. It is also designed to be able to handle temperature changes without any loss in strength or change in properties.
Cost Savings
Using aluminum mold plate allows for several different options in cost saving. First, the aluminum plate is very easy to machine, helping to reduce the time and the wear and tear on equipment in fabrication.
When the molds are easy to develop and can be easily fabricated on CNC machines as needed, there is less potential downtime in both prototype development as well as production. There is also less wear and tear on fabricating equipment, which is yet another cost saving factor to consider.
Additionally, using mold plate also helps to reduce the mold cycle time. By allowing for more even and rapid heating and cooling, there is less time needed to produce each injection mold part, which also helps to reduce the cost of production.
Finishing
While aluminum is known for its ease of finishing and even texturing as needed, the specific alloys used in mold development are optimal for these types of applications. The speed in producing the mold combined with the exceptional finishing options means that these molds will not just be quick to produce, but they will last.
It is not uncommon for an aluminum mold to last in excess of 500,000 injections, and this number can be extended to close to double with routine mold care and maintenance. With the durability, finishing options and the lower cost of production over steel and other metals and alloys, mold plate is the go-to choice in many industries and applications.
