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.  

ISO Registration Benefits Automotive Mold Maker

There are many benefits to working with an ISO Registered mold making facility, including quality product and cost savings to the buyer.  ISO quality standards are recognized internationally as the set of quality standards for various industries worldwide to measure performance in their processes, which encompasses all business processes whether they be service or production related.   Most suppliers to the Automotive industry must be registered to either ISO9001 or ISO/TS16949, providing uniform measurements to rate suppliers in a global economy.   

Globally recognized quality standards give Automakers around the globe consistent quality procedures and standards to measure the performance of their suppliers, in quality and service.  This makes the job of the purchasing agent more streamlined in choosing suppliers, and takes some of the burden off when qualifying suppliers to their supply chain.  Most suppliers, even 2nd and 3rd tier suppliers, must be registered to ISO standards and provide a Certificate of Conformance.  This gives peace of mind to Automakers around the world that their suppliers are adhering to their Quality Policy and performing continual improvement in all processes to remain competitive.  Continual improvement projects that focus on increased cycle times, or reduced purchasing costs can be passed on to the Automotive customer, providing even more value as an ISO registered mold shop.  

Michiana Global Mold is an ISO Registered mold making shop, practicing continual improvement with top down management.  We combine the latest in technology with our vast experience to provide the best options for injection molds, beginning with a detailed and thorough injection mold design.  Our design engineers are the best in the business, with extensive experience using our CAD/CAM software and equipment.  

Our journeymen mold makers are accustomed to constructing complex injection molds for high volume, custom injection molding.  We build the challenging tools that other mold makers shy away from.  Michiana Global Mold is experienced with all types of molds, including insert cavities, cold and hot runner tools, shuttle molds, three-plate tools and any other mold type required.  We meet tight tolerances and even tighter deadlines with quality injection molds, built right the first time.  We provide sample parts and reports, and all required tool status reports.  

Michiana Global Mold offers discounts with our off-shore injection mold making partner, rebate programs for high-volume tool requirements, and FREE design consultations.

Contact Michiana Global Mold today to speak with one of our skilled mold designers and learn how we can assist you with your next injection mold making project.  We are an ISO9001:2015 Registered mold making facility with vast experience building custom, precision injection molds for demanding industries including Automotive.  

Mold Design Consideration for Automated Molding

Injection molders today are using sophisticated, automated equipment aimed at molding high quality products with lean processes.  Automated auxiliary equipment is used to provide consistency in a process while reducing cycle times.  Each injection molder’s shop environment is different, and some equipment must be custom designed to work together.

An injection mold designer must be aware of the molding environment in which the mold will run, which includes the type of press, any auxiliary equipment used in the molding process and the location of tie bars and cooling lines.  This information is vital to a proper mold design to ensure that nothing will interfere with installation or operation of the mold.

Some Automated equipment that injection molders use are vacuum conveying systems, sprue pickers, robotic arms and conveyors, computerized quality inspection and rejection procedures, and automated packing procedures.

As any molder knows, reducing cycle time provides cost saving efficiencies that equate to increased profits to the bottom line.  Be sure to share with your mold designer any custom design requirements unique to your molding situation.  

Michiana Global Mold is experienced with the most challenging of mold designs requiring tight geometric tolerances with critical dimensions.  We construct molds used for any environment, with custom designed solutions provided with Unigraphics CAD/CAM Software, and Mold Flow Analysis if required.  

We are an ISO Registered mold making facility following a strict quality policy in all aspects of injection mold design and construction.  Michiana Global Mold has been a valuable supplier to many supply chains including to the Automotive industry for over 50 years.  We employ a highly knowledgeable and experienced staff, with skilled designers and journeyman mold makers.

Michiana Global Mold has in-depth knowledge designing and manufacturing injection molds that meet tight geometric tolerances.  Contact us today for a FREE design consultation and to learn how we can assist with all of your injection mold requirements.  

Advantages of Prototype Injection Molds

Constructing a prototype injection mold has many advantages to a successful launch of an injection molding program.  Prototype tools give a molder a chance to try out a new design, prior to investing in a large multi-cavity full size injection mold.  Some prototype tools are even constructed with just a prototype cavity, allowing for additional cavities to be developed later after perfection of the prototype.  

Prototype tools are advantageous when using a new thermoplastic resin that the molder may not be familiar with.  A prototype gives the advantage of learning how a new material will melt, flow and fill critical dimensional areas.

A prototype also gives a molder a chance to try out a new design for a part that may have to fit into another larger assembly.  Constructing a prototype tool will give the molder a chance to produce a prototype part to test out functionality, either in larger assemblies or even on an automated assembly line.  

Constructing a prototype tool is a very inexpensive way to test out new parts without an initial major outlay of cash.   Prototype tools are typically constructed with less expensive material than a production tools, therefore are not made to stand up to high volume production but rather a few short production lots for sample testing.  

While production tools must be constructed with hardened steel, a prototype can be made of P20 or non-hardened steel, or even aluminum, as this is adequate to produce sample parts for testing purposes.  Prototypes are used in many industries where an initial small investment into a mold for testing purposes is well worth it prior to constructing a high-volume production mold.  

Michiana Global Mold has vast experience assisting engineers and designers to achieve their dimensional goals with design assistance and Prototype Mold Construction.  Contact us today for a FREE design consultation and to see how we can assist you with your project development goals.  

Injection Mold Design for Engineering Resins

Thermoplastic engineering resins are the most common type of plastic resins used in the injection molding process.  With many different types of plastic resins each with their own unique properties, it takes great care and consideration to properly design and construct a mold for use with thermoplastic resins.   These highly useful polymer resins have varying properties of elasticity, resistance to temperature, corrosives, shrinkage and right down to the exterior finish such as a matte or a glossy finish.  

Shrink rate is a very important property of thermoplastic engineering resins used in injection molding, as the cavities must be carved out to accommodate to this shrink rate.  If shrink rate is not accounted for properly, a part may shrink too much after cooling and deviate from customer requirements. Knowing the cooling and shrink rate of the polymer resin used for any molding process is of the utmost important to the journeymen mold makers constructing the tool.  

Cooling rate is also important for the part to become completely solidified prior to ejection.  Cooling rate must be configured into the injection molding cycle time, to ensure proper cooling and ejection without damaging the part.  

Each polymer resin will have a MSD sheet, Material Safety Data sheet along with material specifications clearly defined in each numbered lot of all thermoplastic resins.  If working with a new material, a mold designer may prefer to use Mold Flow Analysis, for a computer simulated demonstration of how the plastic material will melt, flow and fill.   Predicting the flow of thermoplastic resins prior to cutting steel is vital for accurate geometrical tolerances in the final product.  

Even with a material spec sheet which is necessary, nothing helps a skilled mold designer more than experience.  Skilled mold design engineers are very familiar with the various properties of engineering resins allowing for precise mold construction with even the most specialty of molding resins.  

Michiana Global Mold is an experienced mold design and construction company, with vast experience with various thermoplastic resins used in injection molding.  We employ highly skilled journeymen mold makers and expert design engineers to satisfy even the most demanding of customer requirements.  We tackle the complex mold designs that other companies shy away from.  For complex, precision molds that must meet tight tolerances, contact Michiana Global Mold today for superior mold design and mold making services.

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

Maintain Molding Specs with Preventive Mold Maintenance

The cost of an injection mold is usually the largest part of an investment into a plastic molding process with the exception of the molding press itself.   Capital equipment requires maintenance, with a preventive maintenance plan typically in place for all equipment to keep machinery and equipment running at optimum performance levels and to avoid costly repairs.  

The injection mold itself is no different, operating at optimum performance when a regular preventive mold maintenance routine is performed.

Each injection mold is unique to a particular program, and may be either a cold or hot runner tool, with single or multi cavities.  Some injection molds run only a few times a year to produce a production run then store for a while before it is needed again, and some molds supporting high-volume requirements run continuously in the press.  

Performing preventive maintenance on these high-volume molds is critical to consistent part production within customer specification.  The material the used in the molding process has great impact on the steel mold.  A glass filled nylon, for example, will put a lot of wear and tear on the steel vs. a simple polypropylene material.

Take the time to determine at which cycle intervals your mold requires cleaning, and you will continue to produce high quality parts without mold breakdown.  Some preventive mold maintenance can actually be performed right there at the press, while other PM intervals require a full break-down and thorough mold cleaning.

Preventive maintenance is vital for mold performance, and to meet production requirements.  Take the time to determine the optimum mold maintenance regimen for your injection molds, and provide consistently molded parts within customer specifications.  

Michiana Global Mold is a a valuable supplier to the automotive industry, providing complex, precision molds with our ISO9001 Quality Management System.  Contact us today to learn about our rebate program and to how we can save you money on your injection mold requirements.  

How to Source Injection Molds Overseas to Save Money

Figuring out how to source quality injection molds overseas with an injection mold maker in China can be a daunting task.  This endeavor can end up costing you more than it would be saving if not implemented correctly.  How do you know the quality of steel and craftsmanship that this foreign company will put into making your molds?

When providing a competitive foreign quote depends upon landing that big contract or losing it, don’t leave this huge business endeavor to chance.  Work with a domestic mold making company who can provide overseas sourcing, and overseas pricing, with the same domestic quality and service your project demands.

Offshore Mold Sourcing from Domestic Provider

Michiana Global Mold is a mold making company located in the Midwest, USA, with a business partner in China to provide the same quality in complex injection molds as our domestic locations.  Both facilities are ISO registered, following a strict quality policy in mold design and construction.  With our offshore mold making partnership, we take care of all overseas communication and quality inspections for a hassle-free transition for you.  With one domestic customer service contact, you will have tool status updates and assurances of quality with on-time delivery.  

Our Chinese mold making partner, Modular Molds, uses only North American and German Steel to construct molds built to customer KPC’s.  We supply Initial Sample Inspection Reports (ISIR), with final inspection conducted at our domestic location for complete assurances to full print specification.  

Michiana Global Mold has more than 50 years of experience designing and constructing complex, precision tools.  We tackle the challenging molds that other mold builders shy away from.   WE are a full-service mold making facility providing prototypes, insert cavities, cold-runner and hot-runner tools,  three-plate tools and shuttle molds.   Download our FREE Guide to Sourcing Your Tools in China, and let Michiana Global Mold assist with your offshore mold sourcing project.

Michiana Global Mold is a leader in plastic injection mold making, serving the Automotive and various industries since 1964.  We offer high-quality, precision tooling from our domestic or overseas location, on time and to your specifications.  Contact us today to learn more about our offshore mold making capabilities.