When choosing the suitable metal for the molding cavity, it might be challenging to establish the right one for you because of the many different metals available. There is not a one-size-fits-all option since multiple variables determine the suitable choice. While selecting a metal for your project, consider the period of the production process, tooling costs, and maintenance.
If a metal such as aluminum is best for one project, that does not mean the same material is suitable for a different project. For this reason, it is best to understand the properties of other metals and how they may interfere with your production. You should work with authorized and skilled companies for the best injection molding services. The following is a guide to help you establish the suitable metal for your project.
Variables to consider when choosing a tool steel
You need to understand that each metal has its pros and cons, and for this reason, it is essential to know the long-term and up-front costs. Hardened tool steel may be the right choice if you need a stain-resistant material. While this may mean paying more for cooling costs, the good news is you will cut on the maintenance costs.
However, you need to understand that hardened metals do not efficiently conduct heat, and therefore they also take more time to cool down. Less hardened tool steel may reduce your immediate costs but require you to spend more on maintenance. Regardless of the type of metal, there is always a twist to it. While you may not evade the flip side of the coin, maintenance is an important variable to consider when choosing a metal.
There are also varying viewpoints that may affect your decision. For example, you may consider higher maintenance if you have lower tool costs. However, money shouldn’t be the determining factor because cheap items will eventually cost you more.
Aluminum is one of the lightweight metals, which means it cools faster during a production process. It is also less expensive and minimizes cycle times, cost-effective for lower volume tools. Cutting aluminum is also more manageable, and for this reason, manufacturers can make more tools out of aluminum than other metals. However, aluminum is not the best metal from a maintenance point of view.
Unlike lower volume tools, high volume production works best with hardened tool steels. The material is stain-resistant and has less thermal conductivity due to its weight. Surface treatment or coating is usually unnecessary, but one may do so if one wishes.
Standard tool steel may reduce your production costs, but you will use more money on maintenance. While you can always add a coating or treat the surface, damage to the tool puts you at risk. Repairing the coating requires a lot of money and takes more time.
Most alloys have high thermal conductivity and are generally stronger than aluminum. They can be used to mold different materials according to the hardness required. While most alloys can conduct heat, you need to understand the thermal conductivity reduces as the hardness increases. The said alloy properties can be positive or negative depending on the molded material. Alloys are high in rigidity, meaning they hardly break, bend, or warp.
Like aluminum, steel is available in different varieties, and each varies in properties. Versatility is one of the benefits of steel as it can be equally used for low and high-volume parts. Unfortunately, this does not come without a drawback – steel needs coating or surface treatment because it can erode if not treatment as required. For this reason, maintenance costs become higher if the tool gets damaged.
A stainless steel variant does not rust, making it a better choice for highly polished cavities. While it hardly requires coating, stainless steel can erode under specific environments when exposed to grease, saline, and harmful chemicals. S-7’s properties such as shock absorbent and high strength make it suitable for drill plates, dowels and concrete breakers.
A metal’s properties will determine whether it is suitable for your mold or not. Therefore, it is necessary to understand both sides – the benefit and downside of metal before picking one. Other important variables include the maintenance costs and material you are molding.
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