What are the maintenance points for mold accessories
Regular maintenance of mold accessories plays a crucial role in the service life of molds. The annual maintenance program required for each injection molding position depends on different mold cycle times. Here are some maintenance techniques for mold accessories that can be used by each mold user to ensure the effective operation of mold components such as hot runners, heaters, guide posts and ejector pins, molding inserts, etc., in order to prevent unexpected situations from occurring.
1. Check for any warning signs of rust or moisture at the air vents. If you find rust or moisture near the hot runner exhaust hole, it means internal condensation or the possibility of water pipe rupture. Moisture can cause a fatal short circuit to the heater. If the machine does not run continuously throughout the year and needs to be shut down at night or on weekends, the probability of this condensation phenomenon will increase.
2. Remember to remind the operator not to use the hot nozzle at the gate; Clean up” Fall off. If the operator happens to see a small piece of stainless steel at the mold nozzle, it may be a point nozzle component. “ Clean up” Dropping this seemingly obstructive thing often ruins the hot mouth. To avoid damaging the hot nozzle, please confirm the nozzle type of the hot runner system before taking action and ensure that all operators are well-trained and able to identify the different types of nozzles they come into contact with.
3. Sliding buckle. For machines that run continuously throughout the year, this task should be performed once a week. And the end of the year is a great time to perform a routine lubrication and maintenance on these parts.
4. Interactively verify the resistance value of the heater. You should have already measured the resistance value of the heater when you first started using it, and at the end of the year it is time to measure and compare it again. If the resistance value is± A 10% fluctuation should be considered to replace the heater to ensure that it does not malfunction at critical moments in the production process. If the resistance value has never been measured before, measure it once and use the obtained value as reference data for future inspections of the heater.
5. Check for signs of wear on the guide post and guide sleeve. Find out if there is
Scratches or abrasions are marks of wear on mold components caused by a lack of lubrication. If the traces are just beginning to appear, you can also extend their lifespan by adding lubricant to the guide post and guide sleeve. If the wear is already severe, then it is time to replace the parts with new ones. Otherwise, the cavity and core parts may not fit well, resulting in uneven thickness of the component cavity wall.
6. Check the water flow condition. Connect a hose at the outlet of the waterway to allow water to pass through the pipe and remain in the bucket. If the water flowing out is not clear or has a color, rust may occur, and if the water flow is not smooth, it means that there is a blockage somewhere. If these issues are found, drill through all the water pipes again (or use any method you commonly use to clean them) to ensure smooth flow. Improving the water treatment system in the factory can prevent various problems caused by rust and blockage in the future.
7. Clean the top pin. After a year, the top pin will become very dirty due to gas accumulation and membrane like impurities. It is recommended to clean the mold thoroughly with mold cleaner every 6-12 months. After cleaning, apply a layer of lubricant on the top pin to prevent scratches or breakage.
8. Check if there are any fractures in the radius area of the hot nozzle. The fracture is caused by loose and hardened plastic fragments remaining in the hot mouth of the machine, which are subjected to clamping force from the barrel components during forward injection molding. The cause of the problem may also be misalignment. When discovering a fracture, these two possibilities should be considered. If the damage is severe enough to prevent petal shaped leakage, the sprue sleeve should be replaced in a timely manner.
