mold engineering | Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc.

Why Choose a Career in Mold Engineering?

Take a look around you, and before long, you will spot items made through injection molding or created with parts made from molds. It’s a quick and easy example of the value of molds in everyday life.

At Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc., we manufacture the molds that other companies use to build their products. Our company is always looking for talented, skilled, and hardworking individuals, and we’ve decided to create this post on why you should choose a career in mold engineering.

This field is a dynamic one that allows many industries to exist. Without molds, some companies wouldn’t be able to create their products.

Mold engineering is at the leading edge of technology. You will get to use many pieces of modern equipment such as five-axis milling machines and high-speed scanners that can capture 3D coordinates. And while using that machinery and much, much more, you will be working for clients as diverse as the U.S. military, automotive companies, and car seat manufacturers. In short, it’s a career that offers variety and the chance to practice the skills you already have and learn new ones while keeping pace with the rapid advancement of products and equipment.

Contact us today at Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. to learn more about job opportunities in mold engineering.

How Prototype Molds Speed Up Production for Your Engineering Firm

As an engineering professional, you understand the importance of fast and efficient production processes, but you may be unaware of the benefits that prototype molds can offer. Today, we will discuss the advantages of using prototype tooling in injection molding for your engineering firm.

Prototype molds are a tool that engineers use in injection molding to create a prototype of a product before it reaches the final production stage. This process allows engineers to review the product’s design, identify potential issues, and make changes to the plan before committing to the final production stage. This is a much more cost-effective way to identify and fix design problems rather than investing heavily in production tooling. As a result, prototype tooling saves time and money in the long run.

Prototype molds also enable more precise and accurate mass production. The molds are designed using CNC machining, ensuring the highest precision and accuracy. The molds have a high level of repeatability, meaning the final products will meet the same high-quality standards every time. This is essential for an engineering firm wanting to produce high-quality products consistently.

Perhaps one of the most significant advantages of prototype tooling is speed. Using prototype molds allows for a faster turnaround time and prevents production delays. Because the molds can be created quickly with CNC machining, the prototype tooling process allows for a speedy production process. This prevents delays and ensures that you can get your products to market quickly.

What Is Reverse Engineering For Injection Molding?

Reverse engineering reproduces a product by following a detailed examination of its construction or composition. It is attempting to duplicate the product, or mold, by taking all the original dimensions and recreating it. Manufacturers often use this process to remake molds for plastic parts when the original design files are lost or no longer exist. The closest comparison is in redeveloping parts for vehicles that are no longer manufactured.

Replicating An Original

Reverse engineering differs from an original design mainly because manufacturers don’t create the mold from scratch. The design team aims to duplicate an existing part to the exact specifications of the original. Once the mold is complete, the piece can be fabricated without limit.

Practical Processes

The process must include several considerations, such as shape, function, and material reversal. The practical application of reverse engineering for injection mold manufacturing primarily comprises:

The design of new parts for product modification or profiling
Duplicating existing parts to reproduce the original product’s design intent
Restoring damaged or worn parts
The detection and comparison of digital models

Reverse engineering technology provides good technical support for rapid design and prototyping. It’s one of the most essential and concise ways of information transmission in manufacturing.

How to Choose the Right Plastic Injection Mold Maker

When you are looking for plastic injection mold makers, you want to be sure you are partnering with a company that will not only meet your needs but also exceed your expectations. With so many mold makers out there, it can be challenging to navigate the process of choosing the right one. However, with the right tools and information, you can find the perfect fit for your business. Today, we will discuss how to choose the right plastic injection mold maker for your needs.

Determine Your Needs – The first step in choosing the right plastic injection mold maker is determining your needs. You need to identify what type of molds you require for your project, the level of customization needed, and the number of products you intend to produce. Once you have a clear understanding of your requirements, you can narrow down the list of potential mold makers to those who can meet your requirements.
Look for Experience – Experience matters a lot when it comes to mold-making. You want to partner with a mold maker with a proven track record of success and years of experience in the industry.
Consider Their Facilities & Capabilities – Another critical factor to consider when choosing a mold maker is their facilities and capabilities. For example, Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. has a wide range of facilities equipped with the latest technology. This allows them to provide custom molds and tooling for various industries, including automotive, consumer goods, medical devices, and more.
Check Their Reputation – Reputation matters, and it is crucial to choose a mold maker with a solid one. You can do this by looking at their online reviews, customer testimonials, and case studies.
Assess Their Communication – Effective communication is essential in any business relationship. You want to partner with a mold maker who is transparent, honest, and communicates clearly. The best mold makers communicate regularly with their customers, providing updates on project progress and addressing any concerns.

Injection Molding vs. CNC Machining: Which Is Better for Your Project?

Injection molding and CNC machining are manufacturing methods used to create complex parts. But which one is better for your project? As an injection molding company, Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. understands the importance of choosing the proper manufacturing method for your project. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at injection molding vs. CNC machining and help you determine the right fit for your needs.

Injection molding is a manufacturing method in which plastic, rubber, or metal are melted and injected into a mold. It is a cost-effective method for creating large volumes of identical parts quickly and accurately. Injection molding is also ideal for producing parts with complex geometries and features. However, injection molding requires expensive upfront tooling costs, which may not be feasible for small-scale projects.

CNC machining, on the other hand, is a subtractive manufacturing method in which materials are cut away from a solid block to create the desired shape. CNC machining is ideal for producing small quantities of parts with intricate features that require high precision. CNC machining also allows for more flexibility in design changes than injection molding. However, CNC machining is more expensive for larger quantities of parts, and production times are longer.

When considering injection molding vs. CNC machining for injection molds, it’s important to consider the project’s requirements. If you need to quickly create large volumes of parts and the upfront tooling costs are feasible, injection molding is the way to go. However, CNC machining may be the better option if you require the precision and design flexibility that CNC machining offers or only need to produce a small quantity of parts.

Building a Plastic Injection Molding Tool for Success

Are you looking to improve your injection molding company’s production tool-building process? If so, you’re in the right place. At Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc., we have perfected the process of building a plastic injection molding tool for success. With over 50 years of experience in the industry, we have learned a thing or two about what it takes to create a high-quality tool that produces consistent and precise parts.

Today, we will share our top tips for building a plastic injection molding tool to maximize production efficiency, minimize downtime, and ultimately increase your bottom line.

Tip #1: Start with the End in Mind

Before building your plastic injection molding tool, you must understand precisely what you need it to do. Consider the size and shape of your parts, the material you’ll use, and the required production volume. By understanding these requirements upfront, you can design a tool that will meet your precise needs and minimize the chance of errors or delays down the line.

Tip #2: Choose the Right Materials

The quality of the materials you use to build your injection molding tool will directly impact its longevity and performance. Invest in durable and corrosion-resistant, high-quality materials to extend your tool’s lifespan and minimize ongoing maintenance costs.

Tip #3: Use Advanced Technology

The field of injection molding is constantly evolving, and it’s vital to stay ahead of the curve. By investing in advanced technology, such as computer-aided design (CAD) software and high-speed tool milling machines, you can streamline your production process and create more precise and consistent parts.

Tip #4: Optimize for Efficiency

When building your injection molding tool, consider ways to optimize its design for maximum efficiency. This might mean reducing the number of components or using a modular design that can be easily swapped out. A well-designed and efficient tool can save you significant time and money in the long run.

Tip #5: Prioritize Safety

Finally, it’s important to prioritize safety throughout the production tool-building process. Ensure your tool is designed with the necessary safety features and your team is trained to operate it safely. By prioritizing safety, you can protect your workforce and avoid costly workplace accidents and lawsuits.

Resins Solutions for Plastic Injection Mold Makers

Plastic injection mold makers use many materials in the manufacturing process. They choose thermoplastic polymers based on their function and resistance to specific environmental exposure. Injection mold design services work closely with various industries, using appropriate materials for successful results. The most common ones are ABS, HDPE, LDPE, Nylon, PC, and PP.

Properties of Injection Molding Materials

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)— This is a tough and sturdy material capable of resisting substantial impacts and scratches. ABS is melted at a low temperature, making it easy to mold. Because it’s a good insulator, ABS is ideal for phone adaptors, keyboard keys, and other electronic parts.
Low-Density & High-Density Polyethylene (LDPE & HDPE)—As a soft and flexible material, LDPE is low-cost and ideal for fabricating lightweight components such as bottles and plastic bags. On the other hand, HDPE is resilient and stiff with higher strength. It’s an affordable material, which is excellent for manufacturing plastic bottles and recycling bins.
Polyamide (Nylon)—In tool design, nylon is popular due to its strength and waterproof capabilities. Its unique nature can produce components that resist high-moisture environments, such as pipe fittings and bearings. Nylon is also commonly used in automotive applications.
Polycarbonate (PC)—This material is solid, lightweight, and transparent. It is commonly used in engineering due to its optical properties. You can find PC in safety hamlets, bulletproof glass, and machinery guards.
Polypropylene (PP)— As a suitable thermoplastic polymer, PP is flexible, elastic, and rigid. It’s highly resistant to chemicals and moisture, making it an excellent choice for food storage in the packing industry. You can also find it molded into equipment housing and machinery components.

Mold Manufacturing

The possibilities for molds are near infinite. No matter what you need, you can count on Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. to deliver. Our mold manufacturing combines cutting-edge technology with the skills of our experienced team to satisfy the demands of your project. Whether you need a prototype mold or mass production; we will provide reliable quality on time and within budget. Let’s make something great together; contact us today to discuss your needs.

State-of-the-Art Facility and Exceptional Qualifications

Since 1966, we have been at the forefront of the mold manufacturing industry. We have grown consistently to meet the needs of our clients by embracing new technologies while also adhering to our classic business values. Today, our state-of-the-art facility includes a 61,000 sq. ft. manufacturing area that is fully air-conditioned, as well as a 12,000 sq. ft. climate-controlled warehouse and 14,000 sq. ft. of office, engineering, and training area. We utilize some of the industry’s best machines to make your plans a reality while adhering to strict quality control.

We are also proud to be an ITAR-registered injection molding company. Our compliance with ITAR gives our government clients confidence in our products, as well as our industrial and institutional customers. Contact us today to learn more about our manufacturing equipment and fabrication capabilities.

Why Your Company Should Choose ITAR-Certified Molders

ITAR-certification is a government endorsement from the United States Department of State (DOS). It is also known as International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and the DOS uses this to control and oversee the production of items used for defense or military purposes.

Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. is fully ITAR-certified molders which means we can design and build molds for relevant government departments and contracts. By following these ITAR regulations, we are able to meet the needs of our government and institutional customers.

When your company is looking to secure lucrative government contracts, you need to make certain that you meet all requirements. That is why you should source your molds from ITAR-certified molders. Suppose the company you choose to work with already has ITAR approval and has a proven track record of creating excellent molds for use in government contracts. In that case, that looks excellent on your proposal submission. It shows that your company has taken the time to seek out and form professional relationships with reliable suppliers who are already trusted by the government.

Contact Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc. today to learn more about ITAR certification and how it can be a valuable tool for your company.

Injection Mold Design and Manufacturing: A Pivotal Part of the Creation Process

When your company is creating a new product, a mold is a crucial part of the process. Without one, you cannot make the part, so having an exact mold made is a critical step along the path to a finished item.

It takes specialized skills to design and make a mold that allows your manufacturing steps to proceed to the finished item. We have those skills at Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc., and we’re going to discuss in this blog post how injection mold design and manufacturing are vital to making an item.

When you need to make an item but do not have a way to create it, you need a mold to produce one from scratch. A mold is the key to the process, and making one with accuracy is essential to a flawless finished product.

When trusted to a skilled workforce using modern equipment, such as ours, injection mold design and manufacturing can meet any specs, including geometries for a mold. For example, our design technicians use machines like an ATOS 5 with ATOS Scan Box 6 and a high-speed scanner to map out the mold dimensions. Molds made with such high-tech equipment ensure that the finished product will be the exact size, shape, and surface finish you need. Each part you make with our molds will be identical and deliver the consistency you want across your entire production run, regardless of the size.

At Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc., we provide a mold you can use to satisfy your production needs and meet your clients’ needs. Contact us today to learn more.

Navigation

Search Results for: mold engineering