Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Full Service Injection Mold Making Tool and Die Shop


For full service tooling and mold making solutions, Michiana Global Mold offers a wide range of mold making and tooling capabilities.   Our niche, and one area of expertise is constructing precision, custom injection molds for complex part production using quality North American or German Steel with modern equipment and technology.  We meet the tight tolerances and fast deadlines of the Automotive industry, and are a valuable part of many other industrial supply chains.  
Our services include much more than building new injection molds, however, and as a full-service Tool and Die Shop we can offer a wide range of comprehensive tooling services.
CNC / EDM and Wire EDM Machining
With the latest in modern equipment, Michiana Global Mold uses four Charmilles CNC EDM Machines, a Charmilles EDM HD20, a full line of Hansvedt EDM centers, and a 3R and Erowa Tooling Package.  Our journeyman mold makers are experienced in the latest CNC EDM and Wire EDM Machinery and Equipment offering efficient tooling services.  
Grinding
MG Mold has over a dozen Harig grinders alone, in 6 x 12 or 6 x 18 with Grind All attachments, 1 Reid, 2 Boyer, and 2 Proth and 1 Chevalier Hydraulic Surface Grinders.   We can grind any surface area of any product meeting the most demanding of tolerances.  
Milling
With more than 30 different Milling centers, we have the capacity to provide full service for even multi-tool programs with quick lead times.  Our full line of milling centers include 1 Hwacheon 20,000 RPM High Speed Mill, 2 Fanuc Robodrill 20,000 RPM, over a dozen Hurco CNC Machining and Milling centers, 11 Bridgeport Milling Machines and various other milling machines fill our large capacity production area.
Sampling and Inspection
Michiana Global Mold will sample your tool in the selected material, providing first shots to your specification prior to tool delivery.   We provide the highest of quality and inspection services
Engineering Changes and Tool Adaptations
For all tooling processes, including Engineering changes and tool adaptations call on your one stop, full service tool and mold shop, Michiana Global Mold.
Michiana Global Mold has been supplying high-performance tight tolerance precision injection molds since 1952!  Contact us today for a  FREE no-obligation design consultation for your next mold making or tooling project.  

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

How to Source a Professional Mold Builder


What qualities are you evaluating when searching for a mold making company?  How do you qualify a mold builder as a preferred vendor?  You probably have a thorough, detailed and organized method of granting vendor approval, including a Quality audit.  As part of your formal process, some critical standards stand out as critically important over others, those would be:
  • Engineering Capabilities including modern and updated design software such as UniGraphics or Solidworks with 2D print and file sharing options
  • Quality of overall work performed including product quality of steel and components used in addition to high machining quality with modern and automated equipment, checked for accuracy
  • Delivery Performance – on time delivery ratio including capacity limits and premium delivery options
Engineering Capabilities
Not all mold making companies have kept up with the times and invested in the modern technology available to mold makers today.  With computer driven milling centers and workhorse EDM machines humming all day, the modern mold making shop must be well versed in the computer driven equipment.    Equipment today can hold several programs, constantly checking for accuracy while doing the work it is programmed to do.  Creating these programs takes skill and knowledge of the mold making process from an experienced mold design engineer.  
Quality of Overall Work Performed
Sourcing a mold making company that is registered to ISO9001 standards gives you added assurances that the quality of product and service will be to your specification.   ISO9001:2015 standards require measuring performance and implementing continual improvement projects, with quick response time to meet the overall goal – total customer satisfaction.  
Delivery Performance
As part of internal audits with an ISO registered company, delivery performance should have a positive ratio with an explanation for any late deliveries.  Mold making shops that use modern technology and perform advanced quality planning procedures delivery quality tools on time, with critical areas planned ahead.    
Top notch mold making shops like Michiana Global Mold provide all of these services, in addition to sampling and checking parts for accuracy prior to delivery.

Michiana Global Mold can assist you with your demanding supply chain requirements with modern engineering capabilities, registration to ISO9001:2015 providing on-time delivery of quality product.   Contact us today for a FREE design consultation and to learn more about our multi-tool discount program.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Injection Mold Makers for Precision Parts Manufacturing


Injection molding companies that manufacture precision parts are often in need of a precision injection mold making company to add to their preferred vendor list.  Many quality and purchasing engineers in various industries are searching for a custom mold making company with high precision capabilities to manufacture critical components.
Some industries that require vendors with precision capabilities to produce to high performing parts and components are:
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Military / Ordnance
  • Medical / Pharmaceutical
  • Consumer Electronics
Suppliers to OEMs in these industries must meet stringent requirements, as all suppliers play a vital role in the quality of the end product.   An injection molder must be working with a quality tool that is designed and manufactured to produce a perfect part to the customer specification.  When working with a quality tool, and the specified material, an experienced molder will produce precision parts to specification.   
In addition to the molding parameters such as the size of press, and the material used, the mold design has vital impact on the quality of the parts produced in the manufacturing process.  
Mold Design for Precision Parts Manufacturing
Producing precision parts consistently to customer specifications requires a flawless mold.  The mold design will be based on the part design, usually provided by the customer.  In some cases, an experienced mold designer can assist with reverse engineering for new product design.  
Experienced mold design engineers will use computer aided design (CAD) software to assist with an injection mold design, providing detailed prints that can be shared with the injection molder for collaboration on critical areas.  When necessary, mold flow analysis can show the mold maker, and the injection molder a detailed computer simulation of how the material will melt, flow and fill.
Precision parts molders need a precision mold maker in their vendor list, a mold maker like Michiana Global Mold that offer value added services with custom injection molds within specification, and delivered on time.  For full service mold making and tooling services from an experienced, professional and high performing mold making company, contact Michiana Global Mold.  

Michiana Global Mold is a leading mold making company supplying injection molds to OEMs worldwide for critical precision parts manufacturing.  Contact us today for a FREE design consultation and to learn about our multi-tool discount program.  

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Innovative Mold Making Company Leads Industry


Staying competitive in the injection mold making industry today takes innovation, along with knowledge, resources and experience.   Meeting customer expectations requires using all available assets with the latest technology, combined with innovative thinking.   
Michiana Global Mold is a leading injection mold manufacturer, meeting the tight tolerances of demanding customer applications since 1952!  We employ a highly skilled staff of journeyman mold makers and experienced mold design engineers to design and construct high precision, custom injection molds for a variety of industries including the demanding Automotive Industry.
We are accustomed to meeting tight tolerances within +/- .001”, excelling with precision tolerances that other mold makers shy away from.  Recently featured on the “World’s Greatest” television show, our innovative technology and vast experience with manufacturing complex tools set us apart from other mold makers.   
Michiana Global Mold is conveniently located in the heart of the Midwest, with an offshore location in China.  Both facilities are registered to ISO9001, following the same strict quality policy overseas as our domestic location.  Customer satisfaction is our main goal with continual improvement projects routinely practiced.  
We have experience with complicated designs including intricate ejection systems with lifters, specialized CAM action, and tooling constructed unique to your molding environment including custom mounting systems on your presses.
Michiana Global Mold has over 65 years of experience satisfying the stringent requirements of demanding industries.   If you are looking for an injection mold making company to be a valuable addition to your supply chain, contact Michiana Global Mold.   Let us show you how we can assist with your procured mold making costs. Established in 1964, we have the resources, the knowledge and experience to provide the best value with high quality and high-performance tooling, at the lowest available cost to you.  

Michiana Global Mold is one of the leading injection mold makers in the industry, providing complex precision tooling within your specifications, and on time.  Contact us today to speak for a FREE design consultation.  

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Overseas Injection Molds with Domestic Support


It can be challenging finding an injection mold supplier that can provide overseas injection molds with competitive pricing, and full-service domestic support.  Michiana Global Mold is located in the Mid-West USA, with a partner company in China, offering the best of global sourcing with superior service.  
Modular Mold in China offers full service injection mold designs and manufacturing, for a variety of mold types including semi-finished or fully finished molds constructed with the same technical expertise and attention to detail that you will find from our location in the United States.  We employ only highly skilled journeyman mold makers and design engineers experienced in constructing custom, precision injection molds.  
Michiana Global Mold has been supplying various industries, including the demanding Automotive industry since 1952, providing high quality precision tools to customer specifications for decades.   We are an ISO Registered injection mold making facility, in both our US and China locations.  Our Quality Policy is practiced throughout the organization, providing you with the same level of high precision accuracy from either our US or overseas location.  All molds are inspected for conformance from our US location, and all service is from our Indiana location with one main point of contact providing tool status updates throughout the entire scope of the project.  
Modular Mold’s capabilities include equipment to produce molds accommodating presses up to 3,000 tons, in our more than 40,000 square foot facility.  We focus on precision, lead times and high quality by following our processes according to our quality policy adhering to ISO9001:2008 standards.  
When you need a high quality constructed tool with precision geometric tolerances, you need to call on Michiana Global Mold!  We are your one stop shop for precision injection molds whether you need overseas or domestic suppliers, or overseas pricing with domestic support.  There is never a problem due to a language barrier, as we manage all communication from our US location, and make regular visits to Modular Mold in China.
Let Michiana Global Mold show you how you can have overseas injection molds with domestic service.  Download our FREE book on sourcing injection molds from China.  

Michiana Global Mold is a supplier of superior quality plastic injection molds for various industries including automotive, medical, consumer electronics, and defense for over 50 years.   We maintain high customer satisfaction through continual product and process improvement at both our United States and China locations.   

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Custom Injection Mold Supplier Partners with OEMs


Finding the right injection mold manufacturing company to be a part of your supply chain is a very important decision.  Mold making companies that want to be on a preferred vendor list need to have a competitive edge, something that sets them apart from other mold making shops.   OEMs today need to choose suppliers that can handle large projects, and delivery quality tools on time, regardless of the complexity.  
Michiana Global Mold is an experienced injection mold making facility, supplying high-performing precision molds for over 52 years!  We are experienced with complex designs for molding of critical components in various industries, including precision Automotive components.  
We employ expert mold design engineers, and journeyman mold makers with vast experience in all aspects of custom injection mold design.   Michiana Global Mold utilizes the latest in technologically advanced equipment and software, using CAD/CAM software integrated with our milling centers.   
ISO Registered Mold Making Facility
We are an ISO Registered mold making facility, that will partner with you from the beginning.   Meticulously following a detailed checklist, we are able to identify any critical areas with precision tolerances that may be affected by mold flow or design.  We can even assist with reverse engineering, enhancing your design by alerting you to potential issues prior to cutting steel and working together to obtain the optimum design for your application.  
We are then able to sample your parts and make any necessary final adjustments to your tool, delivering quality parts, on time.  We can construct mold inserts, fully functional molds, mold compositions, over molds for insert molding, and tool adaptations including engineering changes.  

Contact Michiana Global Mold today to learn how our vast experience, knowledge, and technical capabilities will add value to your supply chain.  We partner with our customers from the beginning, providing quality, precision molds for a wide array of applications over various industries.  Michiana Global Mold is an ISO Registered injection mold construction supplier, providing quality class  steel molds since 1952.  

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Design Plastic Injection Molds to Press Specifications


A plastic injection mold designer must consider many factors when designing injection molds, including the press the mold will run in.  Knowing the press specifications is very important in order for the mold to operate properly, and most efficiently during injection molding production.  
Vertical Press Clamping System
The orientation of the clamping system is of course a very important consideration, as this determines whether the mold will open horizontally or vertically.  A vertical molding press is used in over-molding production, also called insert molding because the molten plastic is molded around an object.  An example would be an electrical wiring harness with plastic molded around a portion of it, clamps or even something like knives where the handle is molded around the metal.  
The insert in a vertical molding press can be either steel or even plastic.  A vertical press requires molds for the top and bottom, as a vertical molding press has a rotary table which holds at least two bottom (B) sides of the mold, while the top half (A) half comes down to close on the bottom half molding the part.  
There is usually one top half, and at least two or more bottom sides to the mold, so that when the A side is molding the part on the back of the table, another B side is in front of an operator or a robot loading an insert into the open mold.  Once molded, a robot or operator can unload the over-molded part from the mold, prior to loading new inserts into it.   Constructing molds for a vertical molding press is quite different than for a horizontal molding press, even though the concept is the same.  
Horizontal Molding Press
The most common type of injection molding operation is in a horizontal press, requiring an A side and B side, closing together on a horizontal plane to mold the parts.  When the horizontal mold opens for ejection, parts usually fall into a bin below or are grabbed by a robot and taken to an inspection area.  Most horizontal molding operations do not require an operator at the press, as the vertical over-molding jobs do without automated equipment.   
Horizontal molding presses are very efficient and non-labor intensive, with a top-quality high-performing injection mold, a horizontal molding operation can run for hours in a lights out environment.  
Regardless of whether the mold is for a vertical or horizontal press, the placement of water fittings and hoses is of the utmost importance in designing the tool.  The clamping pressure and press tonnage are also very relevant specifications, in order for the mold designer to calculate the pressure of the molding operation while also considering the material chosen and how it will flow into critical areas.  
Michiana Global Mold has decades of experience designing tools for various plastic injection molding environments, meeting tight tolerances with high performing, precision custom injection molds.  Download a FREE copy of our book “Design Considerations for Different Molds” for more information.

Michiana Global Mold has decades of experience designing and building precision custom injection molds for various industries. Contact us today to speak with one of our knowledgeable engineers for a FREE design consultation on your mold building requirements.  We can custom design molds for your applications, regardless of your molding environment.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Advantages of an ISO Registered Mold Making Shop


There are many advantages gained with using an ISO Registered mold making facility for construction of your injection molds.  Plastic injection mold making shops are expected to meet just in time delivery deadlines with tight tolerances within specifications.  Today’s injection mold making industry leaves no room for error as mold making shops must utilize modern technology with experience and in-depth knowledge of the injection mold making process in order to satisfy the stringent requirements of OEMs today.
The Internationally recognized quality standards of ISO9001, ISO/TS16949 and AS9100 set common parameters for various industries around the globe to measure their performance in either their service or product with a uniform set of standards.  Any supplier to the Automotive industry should be registered to ISO standards. In some cases, proving compliance may be adequate for a 3rd tier supplier, although most 1st and 2nd tier suppliers must be registered to either ISO or ISO/TS.
This gives Automotive suppliers around the globe the same set of standards to adhere to, making the job of the Automotive Quality Engineer from one of the top Automakers a little easier to compare vendors.  In order to stay in the preferred vendor status, an injection molding shop and even the injection mold making shops must not only be registered to ISO standards, they had better be practicing their Quality Policy and performing continual improvement projects in order to stay competitive.  
Mold making facilities meticulously follow detailed checklists ensuring that all issues are recognized and address prior to cutting steel.  ISO Registered mold making shops that follow Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) reveal any critical issues with mold construction such as critical fill areas to tight geometric areas, the need for CAM action, lifters or specialty ejection systems.  Identifying these critical issues ahead of time is crucial to fulfilling a tight deadline with a quality mold.  

Michiana Global Mold is a global supplier of high quality injection molds, registered to ISO  9001:2015 and implementing our Quality Policy throughout the organization.  We have been satisfying the stringent requirements of the Automotive industry with high-quality, custom, precision injection molds for over 52 years.  Contact us today to see how we can assist you with your injection mold building needs.