Precision Injection Molds Meet Customer Specifications

Injection mold designs today must meet tough customer specifications, calling for critical fill areas with precision mold designs.   Careful planning must be taken when designing complex molds for critical applications, ensuring consistent packing and filling to tight geometric tolerances.  A qualified mold design engineer has several important considerations when beginning a complex injection mold construction, beginning with a carefully planned mold design.

CAD/CAM for Mold Design

Computer aided design and manufacturing is a valuable tool for injection mold designers, providing accurate 2D drawings and designs to meet customer specifications.  The use of CAD/CAM is beneficial when constructing molds for any industry, especially when designing and constructing injection molds for the automotive industry.  

Unigraphics and SolidWorks are two of the most technologically advanced software design programs used to satisfy the complex demands of the automotive industry.   Mold Flow Analysis is another valuable tool to identify potentially challenging fill areas, especially when using a specialty resin that may be unfamiliar to the molder.

These computer simulations are part of a thorough Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) set of procedures which ensure a successful mold launch.  APQP procedures are critical to the planning phase as following a detailed set of procedures identifies any issues with resin, geometric challenges such as a thin wall or critical dimensions that must remain within +/-.001” for proper functionality.  

Michiana Global Mold utilizes CAD/CAM software as part of our thorough APQP procedures, to ensure a quality constructed mold for even the most complex of mold designs.  As an ISO registered injection mold making shop, we are experienced with providing a quality mold made to customer specifications, on time and within budget.  We work closely with our customers to develop a successful mold launch to meet even the strictest of specifications.

Contact us today to speak with a knowledgeable design engineer, and Download our FREE Book on Design Considerations for Different Molds.  

Michiana Global Mold is an injection mold design and mold making company, constructing precision molds to various industries since 1964.  We are an ISO registered injection mold making facility satisfying the strict requirements of the Automotive industry with high quality precision molds.  Contact us today for a FREE design consultation.  

Molded Part Surface Finish and Ejection Methods

Injection mold designers must always take into consideration the surface finish required of the finished molded part.  The ejection system in the mold that removes the solidified parts out of the mold cavity or cavities has great impact on the part’s surface finish.  The most common ejection system uses ejector pins which can leave marks on the part, often referred to as witness lines.  

An experienced mold designer will position ejector pins in order to place witness lines in an area acceptable to the part print.  The ejection system and ejector pins are housed in the B side of the mold, extending into the cavity during ejection then retracting back into the mold.   Restrictions on ejection must be apparent prior to mold design, if ejector pins cannot be used without damaging the part, lifters can be utilized for proper ejection.  

The injection mold design must correspond to the ejection pattern and stroke of the press.  Michiana Global Mold is an experienced injection mold maker with in-depth knowledge of designing various ejection systems to meet customer specifications.  We use CAD/CAM Unigraphics software to design and develop a layout for the ejection system prior to cutting steel.   

In some cases, ejection systems must be designed around robotic arms that reach into grab the parts upon ejection.  These robotic systems are called ‘sprue pickers’, as sprue is another term for the runner that is also ejected with the part.  Some ejection systems automatically separate parts and runners, so that they do not need to be separated later.  

Whatever your part design, surface finish, or ejection system is required, Michiana Global Mold will design and construct a superior mold with flawless ejection for the specified part surface finish.  We are an ISO registered mold making company with an offshore mold making partner in China.  Contact us today for a FREE design consultation and to speak with a skilled mold engineer.

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.

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.  

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.  

Expert Brass Forging Die Manufacturer

Copper and brass forgings provide high density parts with very accurate dimensions, achieving a high level of consistency.  Brass forgings are used in several commercial and industrial applications such as automotive, aerospace, marine, transportation, plumbing, lawn and garden, heating and cooling and even the medical industry.  Brass forgings are also used to provide durable strength in architectural applications.  

Due to the precision required of brass forgings used in critical applications, you need a brass forging die maker with expertise in tool making skills.  Michiana Global Mold is a full-service tool and machine shop with vast expertise in manufacturing various molds and tooling, made with top quality components and precision accuracy.  

We have a large capacity modern tool making facility located in the heart of the Midwest in Mishawaka, IN, where we have been supplying quality molds and tooling for over 50 years!  We specialize in complex, precision tooling and brass forging dies, manufactured to your specification within +/- .001”, and on time.  

Michiana Global tackles the complex designs and intricate tooling that others shy away from.  With confidence and experience, we can manufacture your brass forging dies within your tight tolerances, and deliver high volume projects on time.  We manufacture forging dies with a heat treated and polished finish, for single or mass produced production requirements.

With a full-service tool shop, we also do engineering changes if necessary, saving you time and money.  We utilize a full line of CNC machines manufacturing brass forging dies with cost effective, efficient solutions, giving you the best value.   

Our expert design an engineering team can provide a free design consultation or provide reverse engineering services with our experience and CAD/CAM software and equipment.   We adhere all processes to our strict quality policy as an ISO registered mold and machine shop.  

Established since 1964, Michiana Global Mold has over 50 years of experience providing custom, precision injection molds, tooling and forging dies.  Contact us today for a free design consultation and to see how we can save you money on your procurement of brass forging dies.  

Partner with an Experienced Injection Mold Maker

Injection mold making is a very critical, precision process that requires not only knowledge and resources, but also experience.  Experienced journeyman mold makers make all the difference in the world when it comes to creating a quality crafted injection mold versus a sloppy tool that barely makes the mark.   Having experience with building precision tools for a multitude of applications gives invaluable skill that cannot be learned anywhere else.  An experienced journeyman mold maker is a valuable component of the injection mold making process.

Experienced Journeyman Mold Makers at Michiana Global Mold

At Michiana Global Mold we employ a highly skilled design and engineering staff and master journeyman mold makers with in-depth knowledge and vast experience in designing and constructing precision, complex tooling.  We partner with you from the very beginning, coordinating on every aspect of your project with clear, transparent communication.  

Our experienced team draws on traditional methods, combined with our cutting-edge technology, to provide the best solution for your precision injection mold requirements.  Our large capacity facility in Indiana is equipped with conventional EDMs and wire EDMs, CAD/CAM engineering equipment, CNC milling centers, grinders, drills and saws.  

One of our knowledgeable staff can assist you in determining the best type of tool for your project, with the most cost-efficient method while not compromising precision quality.  Michiana Global Mold specializes in manufacturing tight tolerance, complex, precision tooling.  We have the experience and the resources to provide the perfect tool for your project, on time and within specification.  

Michiana Global Mold provides custom injection mold making for any required tooling operation.  We are experienced at manufacturing hot and cold runner molds, hot to cold molds, insert molds, shuttle molds and prototypes.  Our production molds are built with experienced craftsmanship, and only the best in quality components.  

Michiana Global Mold has been in business since 1964, serving the injection mold making industry for over 50 years!  We are an ISO9001:2015 Registered mold making facility with domestic and off-shore molding capacity.  We have the experience and the resources to provide quality molds for any molding application, and the resources to handle multi-tool packages within specification, and on time.  

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.

Injection Molds for Various Thermoplastic Resins

Thermoplastic resin is the most common type of polymer used in the injection molding process. There are several different types of thermoplastic resins with varying properties, including shrink rate, resistance to high temperatures, resistance to corrosives, elasticity, adhesion, finish such as polished or matte, and fatigue strength.  

These are all very important considerations when designing an injection mold to manufacture parts molded from thermoplastic resins.  Shrink rate is extremely important, as the cavities in the tool would have to be adjusted for such shrink rate.  Cooling rate is also very important to consider during mold design, and is important for ejection.  The part must be completely set and solid prior to ejecting from the mold.

When designing a tool for injection molding with thermoplastic resin, mold flow analysis may be helpful or even necessary to identify any critical areas in the part design.  Mold flow analysis is a computer aided simulation that shows clearly how the material will flow, based on its own individual properties.

By predicting these critical areas ahead of time, the mold designer can adjust for tight tolerances, problem areas for material flow and fill, and to identify the optimum location for gating.  This is a valuable tool when designing precision molds for critical components, and is a useful tool to avoid costly mistakes and improving lead times.

While mold flow analysis can be a valuable tool, the best knowledge of how particular thermoplastic resins flow comes from experience.  Experienced mold designers are well aware of the specific properties of different polymers, using that knowledge to design the tool properly to mold the part to print.  

Michiana Global Mold has more than 500 years of combined experience designing and building injection molds for various industries.  We utilize advanced technology combined with skilled journeyman moldmakers and vast resources to construct quality tools for injection molding of thermoplastic resins.  

Contact Michiana Global Mold today to speak with one of our skilled and experienced mold designers to learn how we can assist you with your injection mold requirement.  We are an ISO9001:2015 Registered mold making company with vast experience constructing custom, precision injection molds for various industries.

Top 5 Benefits of ISO Certification

An Overview of the Benefits of ISO9001

There are many benefits of ISO certification, a globally recognized and accepted set of quality standards applicable to companies in various industries.   Conforming to ISO9001:2015 provides many benefits to manufacturers in all industries including plastic and steel production for automotive, consumer electronics and military and defense.

 Businesses that provide design work such as injection mold makers have additional standards and responsibility to their customers, and the supply chain to which they contribute.  Producing quality product, on time, and within customer specifications is key to providing exemplary customer service.   ISO standards prompt companies to detail and audit all systems in their business, implementing corrective actions when those processes are not meeting their goals, applied to all processes, not just manufacturing.

Conforming to ISO standards also means that you have a written plan, detailing needed resources and expected goals for all business processes including business strategy and planning, sales and marketing, production, quality, and customer service.  ISO 9001:2015 puts added emphasis on risk management and leadership engagement, all necessary components of successful, globally competitive businesses.

Here are the Top 5 Benefits of ISO Certification

1.    All Processes are Identified, and Audited for Effectiveness

Processes includes the required resources needed to attain a specified goal.  Each process has an owner, a person responsible for successfully attaining specified goals.   The process owner determines the best way to measure the effectiveness of a process, and implements corrective actions when necessary. 

2.  Contributes to Goal-Oriented Teamwork  

Process owners must utilize human capital as a resource, creating one goal-oriented team.  Each team member should be aware of the company’s quality policy, and know how their role in the organization contributes to the overall business goals.  

3. Improved Efficiency Produces Improved Profits  

Improving efficiency always equates to an improved bottom line.  Time is money, and continual improvement projects like Value Stream Mapping can improve efficiencies and profits for any business process.   

4.  Utilizes Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) business improvement process.   

·         Plan – Establish your objectives and a plan to achieve them 

·         Do - Execute your plan with a structured framework 

·         Check - Audit results against your objectives  

·         Act - Make corrections and improvements. 

The PDCA system Can be applied to any process and is utilized throughout the entire ISO process. 

5.  ISO Certification Focuses on One End Result – Total Customer Satisfaction

Conformance to each and every standard ultimately leads back to total customer satisfaction.  Why does a business do what they do?  Customer Satisfaction is required for any business to survive, let alone thrive and grow.  With focus always on customer satisfaction, one of the major benefits of ISO Certification is that the business has the framework to keep current customers delighted and grow with referrals by providing continued exceptional customer service. 

Michiana Global Mold is Registered to ISO 9001:2015, implementing our Quality Policy throughout the organization with top down management involvement.  We have been top-quality, custom precision injection mold makers for over 52 years.  Contact us today to see how we can assist you with your injection mold building needs.   

Michiana Global Mold is an ISO 9001 Certified Company

Michiana Global Mold is an ISO 9001 Certified Company providing full service design engineering capabilities and custom injection molds since 1952.   Implementing the Quality Policy throughout the organization, with Top-Down Management Involvement, MG Mold believes in empowering all employees by providing equipment with technological advances to complement the vast  experience of our skilled staff. 

This combination of experience and technology enhances the skills of our expert engineers, mold designers and journeyman mold makers, resulting in dedicated functional team.  

We maintain a capital investment program providing modern equipment with improvements in efficiency. Continual improvement projects are performed at regular intervals to provide our customers with quick turn-around on quality precision molds, no matter the size or complexity.  This investment in equipment and efficiency allows us to share in cost saving efforts and offer rebates to high-volume customers.

Michiana Global Mold is an ISO 9001 Certified Company in two locations, domestically located in the Midwest United States, and overseas at our off-shore mold building facility in China, our partner company Modular Mold Solutions. This allows  us to provide both semi-finished and fully finished molds at an economical price, saving up to 40% on your tool package.   This savings can be realized on all tool types: Prototypes, Production and Insert Molds, Hot Runner and Cold Runner Molds, Shuttle and Over Molds, Unscrewing Molds, Collapsible Core Molds, and 3-Plate Molds.  

Michiana Global Mold is an ISO 9001 Certified Company, implementing our Quality Policy throughout the organization with top down management involvement.  We have been supplying top-quality, custom injection molds for over 52 years.  Contact us today to see how we can assist you with your injection mold building needs.