The Inherited Tool / Job part 2

To continue with our series of the Inherited Tool / Job let us now look into some of the details.

1- Inspection of the mold.
a. Is it labeled and marked with what it is and whom it belongs to? Part numbers, mold number etc...
b. If a hot runner tool is there a label describing the hot runner system and requirements?
c. Is the parting line clean or worn over?
d. How are the mould faces, clean or does it appear to be beat up?
e. On any action in the mold is it clean, galled up, warn, or has had damage.
f. On any action in the mold are there safety concerns? I.e. can you break anything if ejectors come forward or go back before said action?  Basically we are concerned with the sequence of opening and closing procedures.
g. Have you pulled a water fitting off to look for cleanliness of water lines? Are they marked? In and out circuits.  This would be a good time to sketch out the water circuits.
i. This can be done via air and tracing the air flow.
ii. Be sure to be safety minded here, eyes, ears and low air pressure.
h. In regards to cooling is there any use of copper based materials in the mold construction? Areas that will cool faster. What circuits if any feed these areas?
i. Ejectors, single rod, guided plates or unguided, springs, threaded for hydraulic pull back?  Does the pattern match the press?
i. Is the plate loose?
ii. Does it move smoothly?
iii. Does stroke length look correct?
j. Vents, do they exist, is there residue, how are the exhaust channels?
i. Do you note any discoloration in the tool?
ii. Do you note any pitting?
k. Have you noted any date stamping, and or date inserts in tool?
i. pin pricks in tool to distinguish possible runs
ii. theses may be on ejector pins
l. If a hot runner mold, are there insulation plates provided?
m. Other, always has to be that anything out of ordinary is noted.

The list above is a great start to the inspection process, but one of the keys to today’s technology is the digital camera; use it to document your tool, and layout, for water and all. As someone goes through the tool and notes things a photo is worth a thousand words, and those words can be used in your new setup manual for your new tool.

Thanks for the time, to be continued

Steven L Silvey
Silveys’ Plastic Consulting
Peipai@aol.com
360-882-3183