Essential Injection Mold Maintenance Tips for Optimal Performance

The fundamental Injection mold maintenance tips are intended to enable the efficient manufacturing of injection molded components. These suggestions include preventive maintenance approaches that enable the detection and treatment of injection Molding issues before they represent a risk to production.

Conduct basic maintenance checks before and after each production cycle.

Before beginning a new production cycle, properly check the injection Molds.  Examine the surfaces of the injection Molding die to ensure they are clear of plastic and impurities. Any external debris may interfere with the tool clamping down, causing plastic to flow into the separating area during Mold injection. You should also inspect for any unusual marks or damage on the Mold's surfaces.

It is also a good idea to inspect the final portion from the previous cycle. This will provide a good indication of the Mold's performance. For example, excessive flash on the parting line could indicate that the injection Mold cavity and core are not properly clamped down.

Check that the shot counter is working properly. This counter keeps track of the total cycles and indicates when to execute significant maintenance tasks.

Clean the Mold's core and cavity.

After each production cycle, clean your Injection Mold in China to prevent foreign material buildup. The injection Mold tool can be used to clean both in the press and on the bench. Press Mold cleaning is performed after each production run, whereas on-bench cleaning occurs concurrently with major injection Molding maintenance tasks and is less frequent. Some resins dirty the Molds more quickly than others; therefore, your cleaning schedule will be significantly influenced by the resin used. Wipe the Mold with a cotton cloth and a regular degreaser or mild solvent. Other procedures, such as dry ice blasting, can help you clean the Mold in place while leaving no residue.

If the plastic Molding tool is taken from the machine for more comprehensive maintenance, it must be disassembled and each component cleaned separately by the Injection Mold Manufacturer. One of the most efficient ways to do so is to clean the parts in an ultrasonic bath. This allows you to clean all surfaces, even hard-to-reach cooling channels and Mold vents. The Mold material must be carefully selected, as some materials are not suitable for ultrasonic cleaning. In this instance, regular cleaning methods must be used.