Injection molder China
Double Your Machine Output
Compared to conventional single-face molds, stack molds can virtually double the output of an injection molding machine by distributing the plastic melt into two or more separate mold parting surfaces. What is a Stack Mold? The defining characteristic of a stack mold are the two (or more) mold parting surfaces or mold split lines. A stack mold does not require much more clamp force than a single face mold because the projected part surface areas of the cavities on both sides of the center block cancel out each others force. @ Without increasing the machine platen size you can double the amount of cavities producing parts. Most stack molds have an equal number of the same cavities in each parting surface. @ Some stack molds have different cavities in each mold parting surface and they produce a family of parts per shot, each different in shape and size. This optimizes plastic part quality and the production output by improving cycle time. @ Some stack molds can also handle multi-material injection, different materials such as hard/soft combination or multi-color molding. Three level stack molds are not as common as two level stack molds. @ When the stack mold opens for the ejection of parts, both mold parting surfaces open (in most cases simultaneously) by means of a mechanical connection between the mold center block, the fixed halves of the mold and the moving half of the mold. The mechanical connection which moves the center block of the mold can be: a) rack and gear operated motion system b) harmonic lever system c) hydraulic push-pull system or d) helical gear system @ Aside from the center block motion system, another key element of a stack mold is the hot runner system. The transfer of plastic melt from the machine barrel into the mold center block has traditionally been achieved by a heated sprue bar which leads the melt from the machine nozzle through the fixed mold half and through the first mold parting surface into the hot runner manifold, which is located in the center block of the stack mold. @ The relatively simple sprue bar has the disadvantage of getting disengaged from the machine nozzle at each cycle when the mold opens for part ejection. The sprue bar may also become an obstacle during part removal, especially with robot take out/handling equipment because it always remains inside the first mold parting surface. @ Mold cavities which by design cover the center surface of the molding area do not allow a center sprue bar so the hot runner has to by-pass the melt by leading it with an off-set manifold to the outside of the mold and from the side position through the first mold parting line into the center block for further melt distribution through the nozzles to the cavities. Injection mold China
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AuthorWorking in plastic industry of customs mold making and molding over 20 years with overseas contact and exports globally. Archives
February 2024
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