Cosmetic Mold
Many cosmetic problems come from the design of the mold. Some of these problems, such as parting lines and ejector pin marks, are caused by the practical requirement that the part must leave the mold in some way.
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Product Introduction
Cosmetic problems
Many cosmetic problems come from the design of the mold. Some of these problems, such as parting lines and ejector pin marks, are caused by the practical requirement that the part must leave the mold in some way.
Most of the cosmetic problems associated with molds are related to resin entry and flow. The path of the resin as it fills the mold, entering from the gate and flowing to the far end of the cavity (as well as allowing trapped air to escape before the resin through the mold vents), greatly affects the appearance of the molded part.
How to deal with the problems?
In most cases, the mold designer will propose the location of the gates and vents, and thus the resin flow. The goal is to select the gate and vent locations that will produce the best part, but as with other aspects of part design, gating can present compromises. Without your input, it is impossible for the mold designer to know your goals, which is why you are asked to approve the layout of the gates and ejectors prior to building the mold. If necessary, the mold designer can use an injection molding simulation program to simulate the solidification flow of the resin.
Mold materials can have some impact on cosmetics. Aluminum molds cannot be as highly polished as steel molds Aluminum molds cannot withstand as high an injection pressure as steel molds, so some processing options are not feasible for extreme part geometries. Aluminum molds are more susceptible to damage than steel molds, so specialized finishes such as Mold-Tech finishes are not recommended for aluminum molds because of the high turnaround time and cost of repair in the event of accidental damage or wear by abrasive resins.
