Manufacturing Of Rotational Molding Molds
The production of rotomolding molds involves multiple steps and processes and is mainly used to manufacture various hollow plastic parts. The following are mainly the steps and key points of making rotational molding molds:
1. Principle of rotomolding mold making
The production of rotomolding molds is based on the principle of rotomolding. The powdery or paste-like dock is about to rotate on the inner wall of the mold. The dock is attached to the inner wall of the mold using centrifugal force, and is heated to make the warehouse. After cooling, the hollow product is obtained by demoulding.
2. Rotational mold material selection
Rotational molds do not require high material strength, but they must have good thermal start-up properties and be able to withstand frequent alternations of heating and cooling. Commonly used mold materials include mild steel, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. When selecting materials, you need to consider the shape, size, quantity and surface quality requirements of the product.
3. Rotational mold making method
The manufacturing methods of rotational molding mainly include steel plate welding, aluminum alloy casting and electroplating molding. Which method to choose depends on the construction complexity and quantity of the mold and the surface quality requirements of the product.
Steel plate welding: suitable for large or complex molds. The production cycle of steel plate welding molds is relatively long, but the cost is low, and it is suitable for producing large batches of products.
Aluminum alloy casting: Aluminum alloy casting molds have the advantages of light weight and good thermal conductivity, and are suitable for occasions that have high requirements on mold weight and thermal conductivity. Modern precision casting technology, such as plaster mold or ceramic mold casting, combined with rapid molding technology, can greatly improve the manufacturing accuracy and efficiency of aluminum alloy molds.
Electroplating molding: Electroplating molding is mainly used to make molds with special surface requirements, such as anti-corrosion, wear resistance, etc. However, the cost of electroplating molding is high and it is suitable for occasions with extremely high requirements on the surface quality of the mold.
4. Rotational mold making steps
The production of rotomolding molds usually includes the following steps:
Design: Design the structure and size of the mold according to the shape, size and performance requirements of the product. Factors such as the wall thickness of the mold, the location of the parting surface, and the setting of the vents need to be considered during design.
Material preparation: Select appropriate mold materials and perform pre-processing, such as cutting, grinding, etc.
Processing: Use welding, casting or electroplating to process the mold. Processing accuracy and surface quality need to be strictly controlled during the processing process.
Assembly: Assemble the processed mold parts and fix them with plywood. It is necessary to ensure the sealing and stability of the mold during assembly.
Debugging: Debugging the assembled mold to check the rotation performance, heating uniformity and cooling effect of the mold. After debugging is completed, trial production can be carried out.
5. Advantages of rotational molding
Rotational molds have the following advantages compared to other types of molds:
Low cost: For products of the same specifications and sizes, the cost of rotational molding molds is about 1/3 to 1/4 of the cost of blow molding and injection molding molds.
Good edge strength: Rotational molding can achieve a product edge thickness of more than 5 mm, solving the problem of thin edges of hollow products.
Complex shapes: The shapes of rotational molded products can be very complex, and the thickness can exceed 5 mm.
Can produce fully enclosed products: Rotational molding process can produce fully enclosed plastic products.
To sum up, the production of rotational molding molds is a comprehensive process involving multiple steps and factors. Choosing appropriate materials and methods and strictly controlling all aspects of the production process are the keys to ensuring mold quality and production efficiency.