Mould sets for blow moulding machines
Mould sets for blow moulding machines
This invention relates to mould sets for use in blow moulding machines including blow molding machine and moulding machines which are intended for prototype or other short run purposes. Mould sets are also known as mould bases.
Blow moulding machine has been known for many years and designs of such machines are available some of which are particularly suited to short run or prototype manufacture. Hitherto, the mould sets for all types of injection moulding machines have been made mainly of high quality tool steel which is not only a costly material but requires expensive machining operations in order to achieve the required longevity in use. Such mould sets are acceptable from a cost standpoint for long production runs of blow articles which may reach very large figures. However, when the mould set is only required for comparatively short runs, sometimes very short indeed where prototypes are involved, the cost of the mould sets becomes an unacceptably high proportion of the cost of production of the prototype articles.
Further according to the present injection moulding machine there is provided a mould set for use in a plastic injection molding machine comprising at least one individual main component of constant, predetermined, cross-section of extruded, high duty, aluminum alloy.
By manufacturing the main components of a high duty aluminum alloy the amount of machining eventually required is small because features of the components which are conventionally machined can readily be incorporated in the section as extruded, and it is of course readily possible to provide subsequently to extrusion the bores and passages through the components which are transverse to the direction of extrusion of the component. The final finish can be effected by spark erosion techniques or other conventional machining. If desired water cooling holes extending in the direction of the extrusion motion may be provided during the extrusion process.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art any main component of a mould set can be produced such as a cavity plate or an ejection plate and sliders.
The invention is also applicable to mould set components for blow molding machine.
This invention relates to mould sets for use in blow moulding machines including blow molding machine and moulding machines which are intended for prototype or other short run purposes. Mould sets are also known as mould bases.
Blow moulding machine has been known for many years and designs of such machines are available some of which are particularly suited to short run or prototype manufacture. Hitherto, the mould sets for all types of injection moulding machines have been made mainly of high quality tool steel which is not only a costly material but requires expensive machining operations in order to achieve the required longevity in use. Such mould sets are acceptable from a cost standpoint for long production runs of blow articles which may reach very large figures. However, when the mould set is only required for comparatively short runs, sometimes very short indeed where prototypes are involved, the cost of the mould sets becomes an unacceptably high proportion of the cost of production of the prototype articles.
Further according to the present injection moulding machine there is provided a mould set for use in a plastic injection molding machine comprising at least one individual main component of constant, predetermined, cross-section of extruded, high duty, aluminum alloy.
By manufacturing the main components of a high duty aluminum alloy the amount of machining eventually required is small because features of the components which are conventionally machined can readily be incorporated in the section as extruded, and it is of course readily possible to provide subsequently to extrusion the bores and passages through the components which are transverse to the direction of extrusion of the component. The final finish can be effected by spark erosion techniques or other conventional machining. If desired water cooling holes extending in the direction of the extrusion motion may be provided during the extrusion process.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art any main component of a mould set can be produced such as a cavity plate or an ejection plate and sliders.
The invention is also applicable to mould set components for blow molding machine.