Knowledge Centre
Practical guidance on injection moulds and moulded parts, written from the specifications in our own catalogue rather than from a textbook.
9 Guides
Material Guide
How To Choose Cavity Steel For An Injection Mould
S136, NAK80, S-Star, SKD61 and 718 all appear in this catalogue. What each one is actually for, and what it costs you to pick the wrong one.
Process Guide
Pinpoint Side Submarine And Valve Gates Compared
All four gate types appear in this catalogue. Where each one belongs, what it leaves on the part, and what it costs in mould construction.
Comparison Article
Hot Runner Or Cold Runner For Your Injection Mould
When the extra tool cost of a hot runner pays for itself, and when it is money spent on a manifold you then have to maintain.
Buying Guide
Single Cavity Multi Cavity Or Family Mould
Impression count is most of the tool price and most of the piece price. How to decide it before you ask for a quotation.
Design Guide
Slides And Lifters And What Undercuts Really Cost
Every undercut adds a moving part to the mould. From one slide to six, what each one adds to cost, cycle and maintenance.
Material Guide
ABS PP PC And ASA For Moulded Industrial Parts
The four materials in this catalogue, what each is chosen for, and what changing between them does to the mould.
FAQ Article
What A 500000 Shot Mould Warranty Actually Covers
Every mould in this catalogue is rated at 500,000 or 600,000 shots. What that figure means, what it excludes, and how to make it hold.
Buying Guide
How Cycle Time Decides The Price Of A Moulded Part
The cycles in this catalogue run from 40 to 100 seconds. What drives that spread, and why it matters more than the tool price.
Buying Guide
How To Brief A Chinese Mould Maker And Get A Real Quotation
What to send, what to ask for, and which missing piece of information causes most of the surprises later.
About The Knowledge Centre
Where this material comes from.
Who writes these guides?
The people who quote and build the tools. Every figure quoted in them traces back to a product record in this catalogue, which is why the same steels and gate types keep appearing.
Can you advise on a part before we commit to tooling?
Yes, and it costs nothing on a part we are quoting. The design review is how we arrive at a number we can stand behind.
Do you have a downloadable version of this material?
The steel and material reference and the enquiry checklist in the Download Centre cover most of what these guides say, in two pages each.
Have A Question These Guides Do Not Answer
Send it with the part and the moulding grade. A specific question about a real part gets a better answer than any general guide.