Automotive Mold Makers Excel with CAD/CAM

Computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is a necessity to injection mold makers around the globe.  Injection molding today is complex with precision parts requiring tight dimensional tolerances.  Thermoplastic resins provide many benefits over other materials and are being used in many critical applications worldwide, including components for the Automotive, Aerospace and Medical industries.  Meeting these tight tolerances with complex injection molds requires the skilled use of CAD/CAM by an experienced injection mold design engineer.

CAD/CAM Delivers for Automotive Suppliers

Automotive OEMs demand the best from their suppliers, and expect perfection with zero defects, continual improvement plans and even cost reductions.  In order to satisfy the demanding requirements of the Automotive industry today, injection mold makers must operate in a lean and effective manner.  

Michiana Global Mold utilizes the latest in technological advancements with CAD/CAM design and mold making capabilities.  Our skilled design engineers have decades of experience constructing custom, precision molds used in critical applications by OEMSs worldwide.  

Our design engineers can quickly identify problematic dimensional areas, and address all concerns with the customer via easy file sharing.  Michiana Global Mold is experienced with UniGraphics, SolidWorks, Mold Flow Analysis, and various computer aided milling machine centers.  

Michiana Global Mold Offers Modern Injection Mold Making

View Michiana Global Mold’s Equipment List and see why we are you one stop full service injection mold making and service facility.  We currently have a full line up of EDM and Milling centers with Charmilles, Hurco and Hansvedt to name only a few of the best names in mold making machinery.   We have top of the line wire EDM, grinding, turning and drilling equipment, driven by technologically advanced CAD/CAM software and equipment.

Combining advanced equipment with the skill and experience of our design engineers and journeyman mold makers, we are able to offer to you high quality precision tooling, on time and within your budget.

Michiana Global Mold is an ISO Registered mold making facility serving OEMs worldwide with high performing, precision injection molds for complex components.  Contact us today for a FREE cost estimate of your next injection mold project requirements.  

Choose the Proper Gate Location in Injection Molds

The gate is the mechanism that allows the plastic resin to flow into the mold, and every plastic part design must take careful consideration of the type and the location of gates.  There are various styles of gating mechanisms typically used in injection molding, and each style will have an effect on the finished product.  The style of gating chosen can affect the visual appearance of the part, the likelihood of warping or sink marks, and proper packing to meet dimensional tolerances.

Avoid Defects from Gate Location

To avoid defects when processing, place your gate location at the heaviest cross section for maximum fill and packing to avoid sinks and voids.  Experienced mold designers will also know when to consider adding a second gate location, which may be necessary in complex geometrical shapes to obtain proper fill throughout the part.  

The location of the gate should allow for automatic or manual de-gating, designed with the minimal length of flow path to minimize visual flow marks.   In cold runner molds, the part is usually ejected attached to the runner and gate, de-gating removes the part from the runner system.  Some processes include automatic de-gating with robotic arms that grab the runner out of the mold separating it from the part or parts.  

Gates in Hot-Runner Tools

There are basically two types of gating systems used in hot-runner tools, where the plastic is injected directly into the cavity to avoid runners altogether.  In a hot-runner tool, the gate may be either a thermal (or hot-tip) gate, or a valve gate.  The hot-tip gate solidifies the resin at the tip nozzle immediately upon high pressure injection into the cavity, stopping the flow of plastic to the cavity.  

A valve gate is used when the plastic may not solidify completely upon injection, and therefore a valve slides over to cover the nozzle tip and stop the flow of resin.  Either type is effective and cost efficient when used properly in a hot-runner system mold.  

Michiana Global Mold is experienced with constructing cold and hot-runner tools, with various styles of gating mechanisms involved.  We are skilled with determining the optimum gate location for precision molds required to produce complex geometrical parts.

Michiana Global Mold has been exceeding customer expectation with high performing injection molds since 1964.  We have vast experience with all types of molds and mold base components. Contact us today for a FREE design consultation and to speak with one of our knowledgeable design engineers.  

Precision Molds for Complex Part Designs

Injection mold designers must use careful consideration when designing a mold for a complex part design.   Intricate plastic injection molded parts may contain several critical areas that must be carefully designed to meet part specifications.  Parts that contain a very thin wall, for example, would be a critical fill area.  It takes expertise in mold design to fill a part completely without any overfill or under fill while still maintaining the integrity of such a thin critical dimension.

Critical areas should be identified on the part print, and throughout the entire mold design phase.  Sophisticated CAD/CAM software is used to develop a viable tool design given all part design specifications and other exterior design considerations such as the specified material and press size.  With a superior design software program like Unigraphics or SolidWorks, mold designers can develop the entire mold construction phase and test critical areas with computer simulation software.  This advanced quality planning phase is crucial to constructing precision molds to customer specification, and within the established lead time.

The part print will also contain specific information such as the resin used and the surface finish or texture required of the final part.  Any restrictions on knit or parting lines must be identified for proper gating.   It takes an experienced mold designer to implement a successful tool design and construction of a precision mold for injection molded parts with a complex design.

Download our FREE Book on Design Considerations for Different Molds, and contact us today to learn about our discount and rebate programs.  

Michiana Global Mold is an experienced injection mold design and construction company, supplying precision tools to various industries since 1964.  We are an ISO registered mold shop, satisfying the strict requirements of the Automotive industry with high quality complex molds.  Contact us today to speak with one of our knowledgeable engineers for a FREE design consultation.  

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.  

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.   

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.  

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.

High Quality Precision Production Injection Molds

Production injection molds are used to mass produce plastic injection molded parts.  Injection molding is the producing of specially designed plastic parts by injecting with pressure and clamp force, plastic in a molten state into cavities carved out in a steel mold where the plastic will harden and set to the shape of the mold, thus producing the part.  

Injection mold makers sometimes produce a prototype tool to test out a part design and function prior to manufacturing full production requirements.  Production molds are used for long term production requirements.  A prototype tool is used only for short runs to produce sample parts for testing and will not support full production.

With proper planning and mold design, a custom mold maker will design and manufacture a production mold that will meet all product specifications and geometric dimensions.  Some of these dimensions must be met with the tightest of tolerances as close as .001”, or about the width of a human hair.  Carving out the cavities of a steel mold to produce a plastic part within these tight tolerances is no easy task, especially when taking into consideration the properties of the thermoplastic resin including cooling and shrink rate, which can have a great effect on the final dimensions of the part after solidifying.  

If a change is required of a production mold, skilled mold makers can perform what is called an “engineering change” to alter a dimension or tolerance within a part.  If the change is feasible just by altering some dimensions in the steel, mold makers can simply adjust some dimensions in the current tool and avoid the need of constructing a new mold altogether.  

Skilled and experienced mold makers will utilize advanced quality product planning procedures to ensure that the constructed production mold will produce parts to spec the first time, planning ahead for critical fill areas and ensuring parts to print.  

Michiana Global Mold is an experienced full-service tool and die shop, constructing high performing injection molds with quality steel.  We are an ISO registered mold making facility, applying our strict quality policies in all processes.  Contact us today for a FREE design consultation and to see how we can assist with your next injection mold production requirements.  

Custom Plastic Injection Mold Making

A custom plastic injection mold maker has expertise with designing a plastic injection mold to manufacture a unique plastic part.  Custom injection mold making is used in several industries, especially those requiring new parts with new model releases such as the Automotive Industry.

When new projects require complex parts that fit into existing assemblies, or critical components used in interior automotive parts, you need a precision custom plastic injection mold making company.  At Michiana Global Mold, no part is too complex.  We excel at designing and manufacturing precision, tight tolerance, custom designed molds for critical components.  Our specialty is providing quality precision tools for complex, custom parts.  

Michiana Global Mold employs highly skilled designers and engineers, utilizing the latest technology to design the perfect tool for your complex part requirements.   Using Unigraphics software, we can create 2D and 3D models of the optimum design, quickly identifying critical dimensional areas prior to cutting steel.

Our designers and journeyman mold makers have vast experience designing complex tooling, even molds that require cam action or customized ejection systems.   Your custom injection mold will be designed to run in your press, and within your unique environment.   We’ll take your water lines and mounting plate into consideration for optimum placement, avoiding any future discrepancies with a smooth-running mold.

Full Service Injection Mold Making Supplier

Michiana Global Mold is a full-service injection mold making company, with over 600 years of combined experience.   Our knowledge, expertise with mold making, and vast resources give us the opportunity to provide the best value to our customers.  

We have a partnership with Modular Mold Solutions, located in China, giving us the ability to source tools overseas while still providing the same quality that you expect from a superior domestic mold making supplier.   

Both of our locations, in China and here in the US, are registered to ISO9001, following a strict quality policy in all processes.   We practice continual improvement on a regular basis, passing savings onto our customers with improved efficiencies and consistent quality.  

 

Michiana Global Mold is a full-service injection mold making company, providing high performance plastic and rubber molds to a multitude of industries including automotive, consumer products and electronics since 1964.  Contact us today to learn about our  free design consultation  and multi-tool discount for high volume projects.  

Industry Leading Innovative Mold Makers

It takes an in-depth knowledge of the mold making industry, along with experience and resources to provide top quality high performing injection molds that meet demanding customer expectations.  Michiana Global Mold excels at manufacturing complex, precision tooling required of demanding industries such as the Automotive industry.  We have the knowledge, the experience and the expertise in constructing high quality injection molds meeting tight tolerances within +/- .001”.

Michiana Global Mold is one of the leading injection mold makers in the industry, employing a highly skilled staff of journeyman mold makers and top mold designers with vast experience constructing high performing complex tooling.  We excel at the precision components that other mold makers might shy away from, leading the industry with high-tech mold making equipment combined with vast experience and knowledge.  Recently featured on the “World’s Greatest” television show for our innovative mold making services, we are a valued supplier to the Automotive industry, meeting and exceeding our customer requirements.  

With locations in the Midwest, USA, and an offshore molding facility in China, we can offer high quality tooling at the best available cost to you.  Both of our locations are registered to ISO9001, adhering to our strict quality policy while performing continual improvement activities.  Total customer satisfaction is our number one goal.  

When you are searching for a new supplier for your injection molded needs, let Michiana Global Mold show you how we can assist with your procured mold making costs.  We more than 50 years of experience satisfying the stringent requirements of demanding industries with even the most challenging of injection mold designs.  

We are experienced with specialized CAM action, complicated ejector system and lifters, and will accommodate tooling to your molding environment and custom mounting systems for your presses.   Established in 1964, we have the expertise, the knowledge and resources to provide the best value with high quality and high performance tooling, at the lowest available cost to you.  

Contact Michiana Global Mold today to speak with one of our expert design engineers about a FREE design consultation, discounts and rebates on multi-tool projects.  We are one of the leading injection mold makers in the industry, providing complex precision tooling within your specifications, and on time.    

Offshore Injection Molds with Domestic Service

Michiana Global Mold, located in Mishawaka, Indiana, is a world class superior injection mold supplier with locations in the USA and China.  Our partnership with Modular Molds in China allows us to offer our customers offshore tooling with competitive prices, while still providing the same level of excellence they are accustomed to from our location in the United States.

Modular Molds is a large capacity, more than 40,000 square foot facility, with the capacity and resources to handle large and multi-tool programs.  This location has a primary focus on new tool builds, although any type of mold is available whether constructing inserts and cavities, or a partially completed full size mold to be finished in our Indiana location.   Our China location has the resources to provide full service injection mold making with additional resources to assure the highest of quality standards.

Modular Molds is also registered to ISO9001, just like our Indiana location, with both facilities following a strict quality policy with focus on continual improvement and total customer satisfaction.  Our China location offers use of the latest technology, such as:

• Mold-Flow Analysis
• Solid Works CAD software
• Unigraphics (NX7.5)
• AutoCAD
• Reverse Engineering
• PPAP Certifications

Both our Indiana location and our China location utilize the latest in technological advancements, with expertise in constructing complex, precision tooling.  Michiana Global Mold excels at custom mold making for tight tolerance, complex molds.  

The key to a quality part, begins with a quality tool.  At Michiana Global Mold, we offer the best in quality meeting our customer’s most demanding specifications, with quality tools delivered on time.  We offer offshore mold pricing with full domestic support.  All tools constructed in China undergo full inspection at our Indiana location prior to shipping.  We offer offshore molds with the same quality as our USA location, and discounts on multi-tool programs.  

Michiana Global Mold is your full service one stop shop for quality tooling and mold making services.  We have been manufacturing custom, precision injection molds for over 50 years, meeting and exceeding our customer expectations with quality tools delivered on time.  Contact us today for a FREE design consultation, and learn how Michiana Global Mold will add value to your supply chain.

Designing and Building Complex Three-Plate Tools

Experienced mold designers must know how to adapt to challenging geometrical dimensional specifications.  Employing a three-plate tool can be a solution when searching for an ideal gate location, or when multiple gate locations are necessary.  

A three-plate tool has an additional stripper plate acting as a buffer between the injecting plate containing the multiple gate locations, and the B plate housing the cavities to mold the parts.  With this precision design, the sprue is ejected in between the first and second plates, and parts eject in between the second and third plates.  This allows for the parts and runner to separate, and is easily adapted with any automated auxiliary equipment just like any other mold and ejection system.

A Three-plate tool design can provide a more consistent flow to cavities with multiple gates, without the need for a hot-runner tool.  In most cases a three-plate tool will be less expensive than a true hot-runner tool, but still provide the increased pressure to fill and pack critical dimensional areas with an even flow of material.  This is beneficial in areas containing thin walls or tight tolerances.  

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Michiana Global Mold has vast experience designing and building complex three-plate tools for various industries, including the demanding quality standards of the Automotive industry.  We have experience building three-plate tools, hot-runner tools, hot-to-cold tools, MUD units, Prototype Tools, Shuttle Molds, and more.  

Our vast resources allow us to provide you with complete service from design to mold construction and even product sampling.  We follow a strict quality policy, adhering all processes to our ISO9001 registration.  Our experience and resources allow us to provide quick turn-around on single or multi-tool projects.  

Contact Michiana Global Mold today for a free design consultation, and to learn more about our innovative and technologically advanced mold building capabilities.  We have what it takes to be an integral part of your valuable supply chain, providing solutions to your mold building projects with quality built tools, delivered on time and to your specification.

Precision Injection Molds for Electronic Components

Constructing an injection mold for small electronic parts requires skill and experience, coupled with quality tools and equipment.  Plastic injection molding of electronic components can be tricky with thin walls in tight spaces and intricate critical dimensions.  

Custom electronic parts are molded out of various materials including thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), polycarbonates (PC), polypropylene (PP), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).  When constructing the mold to make these types of parts and components, you need an experienced mold maker that knows the properties of the various types of polymers and how they will flow in your mold.  We have the ability to provide mold-flow analysis, identifying any critical geometrical areas prior to cutting steel.  

Michiana Global Mold has the skill and the experience to provide a class A quality tool on time and within your budget.  We specialize in highly complicated electronic part molds requiring a high level of skill and precision.  Since precision, custom molds are our specialty, we can provide to you the most value for your investment.  We understand the importance quality, timely mold production, to ensure that your project is up and running with quality parts and components when you need them.  

Our skilled moldmakers have been supplying quality tools for electronics parts and components for over 50 years, satisfying stringent quality requirements for various industries including Automotive, Consumer Electronics, and other various industries requiring precision electrical housings and electro-mechanical switches.

Michiana Global Mold utilizes the latest technology with our CAD/CAM software and integration with our milling machines.  Our highly skilled staff is comprised of a very experienced cross-functional team, providing exemplary service to each and every customer.

Total Customer Satisfaction is our main goal.  As an ISO9001:2015 Registered mold making company, we will add value to your supply chain with adherence to our Quality Policy, providing best in class quality tools, on time and in spec.  

Michiana Global Mold has the experience and the skilled staff to provide a quality tool, on time, and to your specification even in tight tolerance, critical areas.  Contact us today to learn how we can work together to produce custom, precision electronic parts and components.