EN
Maintaining injection molding molds in a fine condition is not only to ensure the molds last longer but also to maintain the flow of production and minimise flaws as well as to avoid extra costs. Taking care of mold in a large factory or small store is not something that happens once a month; it should happen every day. Cleaning, oiling machinery, and checking wear parts often are small tasks that will save you hours or days of lost time in the future. This guide presents realistic measures to maintain molds in good working conditions and production flow not being interrupted.
Essential Cleaning and Lubrication Techniques for Molds
It may appear that cleaning and lubricating injection molding molds is simple but doing it correctly enhances performance and life. Rust, bad finish, or adhesion can be caused by dirt, resin, water, and even prints left by fingers, thus a routine is to follow. Allow the molds to become cold then clean using soft cloth and harmless cleaner, but not abrasives. Keep a watch on vents, ejector holes and parting lines. Regular deep cleaning after multiple cycles that use high-temperature resins. Apply only good lubricant to moving parts such as ejector pins, slides, lifters etc.--sparingly so as not to accumulate. For storage, put rust protection on after cleaning. In one of Cebu's packaging factories, black streaks in clear containers were tracked down to dirty vent grooves that were not washed in 2 weeks; when this was cleaned, the problem was resolved.
How to Store Injection Molds to Prevent Corrosion
Correct storing of molds is equally important as is correct running of molds, improper storage particularly in damp environments cause rust, pitting and sticky sections. has to be constantly cleansed and dried, compression air used to clear pockets, pin holes, cooling channels, and flush and cover up water lines. Use a rust preventive that is appropriate, whether long-term or short-term, and ensure all the metal areas are covered and all the ejectors are relocated to cover the pins. Put wrap molds in plastic or paper that don't rust, or wrap them in bags that won't let moisture in and fill them with desiccants for long-term storage. Keep them in a clean, dry location. During a rainy weekend, a toolroom in Laguna lost an expensive mold to rust in the cooling lines because they forgot to flush and plug them. Now, line plugs and desiccant plugs are the standard practice.
Scheduling Preventive Mold Maintenance for Optimal Performance
It is expensive to wait until a mold develops to perform some maintenance areas so a preventive schedule is important. Depending on the type of mold, material, and workload, maintenance is based on cycles rather than time. For example, mild cleaning should be done after 5,000 shots, and a thorough inspection should be done after 25,000 shots. Keep track of ejector pins, vents, lines, cooling flow, and lubricant, and check them often using a record or digital tracker. Change O-rings, seals, and springs when they are worn out instead of allowing them to break down, and use technology such as thermal cameras to detect faults that are invisible. Employees should be trained to identify early warning indicators like flashing, sticking, or burn marks and to pull the mold to look into them. For example, a food container factory in Cavite, reduction of time taken by half was achieved by introducing new weekly Friday inspections to eliminate unexpected issues such as stuck ejector pins and cooling blockages.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Mold Maintenance
Mold maintenance does not always succeed, even with good intentions, as they contain common errors that lead to poor quality of parts, shorter lives of the mold, and downtimes. Leaving cleaning routines unattended will allow residue and moisture to corrode and use of improper tools or rough cleaners will scratch surfaces. Excess or insufficient lubricating will result in accumulation or seizing and ignoring the initial indicators, such as flashing or sticking causes bigger damage. There are also problems that are hidden because of poor storage without rust protection. A manufacturer in Batangas worked on a cap mold without flashing during two weeks and this blocked vents, scalded the inside, and required expensive re-work and downtime.
