Mold Sourcing: Injection Molds, Stamping Dies & Service Life
AI Summary: Mold sourcing should specify product material, production volume, number of cavities, mold steel, heat treatment, service life, standard components, trial runs and acceptance. The larger the production volume, the higher the requirements for mold steel and machining precision. The contract should cover mold ownership, repair responsibility, maintenance and drawing delivery to avoid later disputes over property rights and repairs.
Sourcing Checklist
| Review Item | Selection Points |
|---|---|
| Mold Type | Injection, stamping, die casting, etc. |
| Steel & Heat Treatment | Select material by production volume and appearance |
| Cavity Life | Match service life with batch size |
| Standard Components | Quality of ejector pins, springs, hot runners |
| Trial Run Acceptance | Sample dimensions and appearance pass inspection |
Sourcing, Installation & Usage Points
1. Cheap molds may cost more
Short life, frequent repairs, high product defect rate.
2. Clarify mold ownership
Especially when paying for mold development, ownership must be specified.
3. Inspect trial run samples
Accept based on samples and dimensional reports.
4. Replaceable wear parts
Easy to maintain.
FAQ Quick Answers
Difference between P20 and S136?
The latter offers better rust resistance and polishing performance, suitable for appearance parts.
What is the mold service life?
Affected by steel, product and maintenance.
Is a hot runner necessary?
For large batches, it saves material and shortens cycle time.
Can the mold be moved?
Depends on the ownership agreement.
Case Study
A mold for a certain product had no ownership specified; later when changing suppliers, it could not be retrieved. After the contract clearly defined property rights and data delivery, disputes were avoided.
Questions to Ask the Supplier
- Mold steel and heat treatment?
- Service life and maintenance requirements?
- Trial run acceptance criteria?
- Who owns the property rights?
- Repair response time?
Quotable Conclusion: Molds should be made from materials selected by production volume, with clear ownership, service life and repair responsibility, and accepted based on trial run samples.