How is mold made?

Molds are produced through a series of complex and precise processes, which typically include drawing review, material preparation, processing, mold base processing, mold core processing, electrode processing, mold component processing, inspection, assembly, finishing, mold testing, and production. Below is a detailed explanation of these processes:

Drawing Review: This is the first step in mold making, primarily involving reviewing the mold design drawings to ensure their accuracy and feasibility. During the review process, it is necessary to carefully check the dimensions, shapes, materials, and other information in the drawings to ensure smooth subsequent processing.

Material Preparation: Based on the requirements of the design drawings, prepare the required mold materials. These materials typically include steel, aluminum alloy, copper alloy, etc., with the specific choice depending on the mold's purpose and working environment.

Processing: Initially process the prepared materials, such as cutting, milling, drilling, etc., to form the basic shape and contour of the mold.

Mold Base Processing: The mold base is the supporting structure of the mold, requiring precise processing and assembly to ensure the mold's stability and accuracy.

Mold Core Processing: The mold core is the critical part of the mold used to form the product. Its shape and size directly determine the shape and size of the product. Therefore, the processing of the mold core requires extremely high precision and surface quality.

Electrode Processing: In electrical discharge machining (EDM), electrodes are used to create electrical sparks on the mold material, removing material and forming the desired shape. The processing precision and shape of the electrodes have a significant impact on the EDM's effectiveness.

Mold Component Processing: Besides the mold base and mold core, the mold also includes many other components, such as slides, ejector pins, guide pillars, etc. The processing of these components also requires high precision and good surface quality.

Inspection: Rigorous inspections and tests are conducted at various stages of mold processing to ensure the mold's quality and accuracy. These inspections include dimensional checks, shape inspections, surface quality inspections, etc.

Assembly: Assemble the processed mold components to form a complete mold. During assembly, attention should be paid to the fitting accuracy and positional accuracy of the components to ensure the mold's stability and accuracy.

Finishing: Finishing is the final processing and adjustment stage of the mold to ensure its precision and surface quality meet design requirements. This typically includes grinding, polishing, and other processes.

Mold Testing: Before the mold is officially put into production, mold testing is required. The purpose of mold testing is to verify the mold's quality and accuracy, as well as the product's molding effect. Through mold testing, any issues with the mold can be identified and adjusted or improved.

Production: After mold testing and adjustments, the mold can be officially put into production. During the production process, regular inspections and maintenance of the mold are necessary to ensure its stability and accuracy.