Manufacturing even a simple mold is a complex process that requires expertise and technical skills in both design and molding. Nothing is left to chance. In fact, each step is the result of careful study that allows us to monitor and keep track of all stages of production to ensure functional, as well as high-quality products, to fully meet our customer’s needs.
The production process of a mold can be summarized in 5 stages, common to any type of mold produced in our workshop:
- request for quotation
- receipt of the order
- mold design
- production
- assembly and quality control
Request for proposal
All the molds we produce are tailor-made and customized according to the needs of our customers, who first send us a request for quotation together with a set of technical data. Below is a list of the most important points to include in a request for proposal:
- Drawings of the part (in 2D and 3D);
- Drawings of the press plans and/or plate dimensions;
- Minimum press closure;
- Type of material to be printed;
- Quantity of parts to be printed;
Such data are fundamental to enabling our designers to determine parting-line, layout, the number of cavities, the optimal size of the plate(s), and technical specifications for the mold. We can issue a customized, non-binding quotation, only after identifying all the characteristics mentioned above.
Order receipt
Once we receive the offer and the customer approves the proposed details, the customer sends us the final order for the mold, complete with final drawings (of both the item to be produced and the press machine where it will be mounted) and the required technical specifications. In order to be able to begin the mold design in a timely manner and thus guarantee on-time delivery as per schedule outlined in the offer, it is essential to attach with the order exact data on the type of compound that will be used for molding. These must include the relative shrinkage rate, since it is impossible to design a functional mold without it.
Design
After receiving the data listed in the previous point, our engineering department can begin the design of the mold. At this stage, constant communication and information exchanges with the customer are essential to achieve a final result that matches the customer’s molding needs and fully meets his expectations. Therefore, we carefully study every detail and submit it for the customer to approve it until the final mold design is created and sent once again to the customer for final approval.
Production
Production of mold components can begin only after obtaining customer approval on the final drawing. Our machinery includes 7 CNC milling machines, 1 CNC lathe machine, and 1 EDM machine, which enable us to produce both simple molds and articulated molds for complex geometries.
Assembly and quality control
After all components have been completed and several on-board tests have been carried out, the mold is ready to be assembled for a final quality control to certify conformity before shipment. With an injection press machine available at our production facility, we can also offer mold testing services upon request before delivery.
