Popularize the basic knowledge of commonly used packaging material molds?

Mold is the basis of packaging material manufacturing. A packaging product is divided into seven parts by mold and three parts by process. Mold directly determines core factors such as product quality, production capacity, price, and delivery time. This shows the importance of mold products to packaging materials. In this article, we focus on analyzing the basic knowledge of molds used in inner packaging materials, so that new buyers can have a basic understanding of molds.

Mold definition

Molds are special tools for forming product parts and are the main process equipment in industrial production. According to the definition of mechanical manufacturing technology dictionary, mold is a device that controls the shape and size of production objects. The mold is used in conjunction with the forming equipment of metal material parts such as stamping, forging, extrusion, and casting, or with the forming equipment of non-metal material parts such as plastics, rubber, ceramics, etc., and can form and process a variety of metals and non-metals Parts have become an important processing method for modern industrial production. Parts formed by molds are usually called "parts" (such as stampings, forgings, plastic products, castings, etc.).

Molds and products

Generally, packaging products start with the purchase of raw materials, and then form finished products through the cooperation of molds and equipment. Then they undergo surface treatment and modification to complete the finished product. Among them, the mold forming processing is the focus of this process.

Mold classification

Depending on the material of the product, the material of the mold is also diverse. It is mainly customized according to the product. Different materials and processes also directly determine the cost of the mold.

According to the different materials being formed, molds can be divided into metal molds and non-metal molds. Metal molds are further divided into: casting molds (non-ferrous metal die-casting, steel casting), and forging molds, etc.; non-metal molds are also divided into: plastic molds and inorganic non-metal molds. According to the different materials of the mold itself, the mold can be divided into: sand mold, metal mold, vacuum mold, paraffin mold, etc. Among them, with the rapid development of polymer plastics, plastic molds are closely related to people's lives. Plastic molds can generally be divided into: injection molding molds, extrusion molding molds, gas-assisted molding molds, etc.

Mold process

First of all, to make a mold, you need to have a design. You have to design something that doesn't exist and what you have conceived in your mind. This involves prototyping. Through prototyping, you can make the imaginary things into real things. Make it more perfect according to your thoughts. After the prototype is made, take it to a professional mold factory. The mold factory will go to the copying company to copy the numbers and copy the dimensions of the prototype. This is the skill of making molds. Data. Only with data can we accurately make something exactly the same as the prototype. After the data is copied out, it must be designed by the mold design engineer. While designing, other work is also carried out at the same time, such as selecting steel materials, mold bases, etc. .

Choose steel material. The steel material is just a pile of iron, not a mold. It needs to be processed on it to become a mold. After the steel is bought, it is not just a random work on it, but it must be done very precisely. The higher the precision, the better. Currently, the mold error made by the most advanced technology in the world is only a few U, but the cost of this kind of mold is also high. First of all, it needs good steel, and in addition, it needs a good machine. This kind of machine can easily cost millions. Of course, the above is useless without a good master.

Secondly, after selecting the steel material, it is time to start. The skilled workers will complete the mold processing through various mechanical processing (such as lathes, planers, milling machines, grinders, EDM, wire cutting, CNC machining centers) according to the drawing requirements. Each part is then assembled and debugged. For molds with simple cavity cores, the computer programming master first compiles the program on the computer and rolls out the mold. In some areas where the gong cannot be reached, a spark machine is used for electrical discharge machining; for molds with complex curved surfaces , it needs to be processed using a three-axis machine tool, and the NC program needs to be generated based on the three-dimensional model in professional CAM software.

Finally, after the mold is completed, it is pulled out for mold testing. Once the mold is tested, the mold can be removed.

Mold application

Molds are widely used in the cosmetic packaging industry. Plastic products, glass products, and paper products all require molds. The cost of the molds directly determines the cost of the packaging materials, and also determines the delivery time of the packaging materials. Therefore, the mold is the core foundation for packaging materials.

FAQs

1. What is the primary role of a mold in packaging material production?

The primary role of a mold in packaging material production is to form product parts. It is a crucial process equipment that controls the shape and size of these parts.

2. How are molds classified based on the materials they are designed to mold?

Molds are classified into metal molds and non-metal molds based on the material they shape. Metal molds further include casting molds (for non-ferrous metal die-casting, steel casting), and forging molds. Non-metal molds include plastic molds and inorganic non-metal molds.

3. What are the key steps in the mold-making process?

The mold-making process involves designing the mold, selecting steel materials, mold bases, and other components.

4. How does mold quality impact packaging materials and their production?

Mold quality directly affects the quality, production capacity, cost, and delivery time of packaging materials. High-quality molds produce better-quality products and improve efficiency.

5. What are the implications of mold cost for packaging material production?

The cost of molds directly affects the overall cost of packaging materials. Higher precision molds, often required for intricate designs, can be more expensive due to the quality of steel and machinery needed.