+86 17727725162 jqj014950@topstarltd.com

Home / How to improve mold alignment in a horizontal injection molding machine?

How to improve mold alignment in a horizontal injection molding machine?

2024/09/18 By Topstar

horizontal injection molding machine 1

Improper mold alignment on horizontal injection molding machine can lead to various problems, including molded part defects, excessive machine wear, and even downtime. Whether in the automotive, consumer goods, or medical device industries, ensuring your molds are properly aligned can maximize efficiency, extend machine life, and improve product consistency. In this blog post, we’ll share Topstar’s practical strategies for strengthening mold alignment on horizontal injection molding machines and discuss factors that can affect alignment during injection molding.

Importance of mold alignment on horizontal injection molding machine

The main function of a horizontal injection molding machine is to produce precision plastic parts by injecting molten material into the mold. Mold alignment refers to the precise positioning of the two halves of the mold (the fixed platen and the movable platen) during the injection process. The molten material flows evenly into the cavity when the mold aligns perfectly, producing high-quality, uniform parts. On the other hand, misaligned molds can lead to problems such as flash, uneven filling, under-injection, and even damage to the mold and machine components. In horizontal injection molding machines, proper mold alignment evenly distributes the forces generated during injection and clamping on the mold. By addressing mold alignment issues, you can improve product quality, reduce machine downtime, and minimize the need for costly repairs or replacements.

Factors Affecting Horizontal Injection Molding Machine Mold Alignment

One of the main reasons for misalignment on horizontal injection molding machines is improper mold installation. You must properly install and center the mold on the machine platen during setup.
Another common factor is the wear of machine components over time. Tie rods, bushings, and other moving parts in horizontal injection molding machines can wear with extended use, causing misalignment between mold halves. Temperature fluctuations can also affect mold alignment. As the mold heats up and cools during the injection process, thermal expansion and contraction can cause changes in the alignment of the mold halves. Finally, the condition of the mold itself plays a critical role in alignment. Worn or damaged mold components can cause misalignment and poor part quality.

Horizontal Injection Molding Machine 2

Brand-new mold adjustment structure for horizontal injection molding machines

Topstar has adopted a brand-new mold adjustment structure in its horizontal injection molding machines to achieve automatic adjustment functions. This one-touch operation simplifies mold setup, making it faster and easier to operate, even for operators with less technical knowledge. Automation ensures that the system aligns and adjusts the mold properly without manual intervention, thereby reducing the possibility of human error. This automated adjustment function is particularly useful in production environments where operators frequently change molds. It greatly reduces setup time, speeds up turnover, and increases productivity. The automated system can accurately adjust the mold to the optimal position, ensuring that the clamping force is evenly distributed on the mold. The uniformity of the clamping pressure prevents damage to the mold and the part being produced, resulting in higher-quality products with fewer defects.

New mold adjustment mechanism(1)

Regular maintenance and inspections to prevent mold misalignment

Regular maintenance helps prevent misalignment and extends the machine’s and mold components’ life, even with a brand-new automatic mold adjustment structure.

During maintenance, check tie rods for signs of wear, bending or damage. Worn or damaged tie rods can cause uneven pressure on the mold, leading to misalignment and inconsistent parts.
Similarly, worn bushings can cause the two halves of the mold to shift during the molding process, resulting in poor alignment and defects in the final product. In addition to inspecting machine components, performing routine maintenance on the mold itself is also important. This includes checking guide pins, bushings and parting lines for wear or damage. If wear affects these parts, the two halves of the mold may not close properly and may misalign.

Control Temperature to Keep Molds Aligned

During the injection molding process, molds are subject to large temperature fluctuations because the mold heats up during the injection process and cools down as the plastic material solidifies. To prevent these temperature-induced changes, it is important to closely monitor and control mold temperature throughout the injection molding cycle. Mold temperature controllers can help maintain consistent temperatures, reducing the risk of misalignment caused by thermal expansion and contraction. Advanced cooling systems can help ensure that the mold remains evenly heated and aligned throughout the production process for complex molds with complex geometries or multiple cavities.

mold temperature controller (4)

Achieve optimal mold alignment

To achieve accurate mold alignment, Topstar has adopted a new mold adjustment structure to improve the mold alignment of horizontal injection molding machines. In addition, through key factors such as correct settings, regular maintenance, accurate monitoring and temperature control, the risk of misalignment and its related problems can be significantly reduced. Whether you want to improve mold alignment, increase productivity or reduce machine wear, our team of experts will help you.

Prev: Injection molding robot in the overall solution of injection molding

Next: What are the advantages of using a servo-driven plastic injection molding machine?

TRENDING POSTS

HOT TOPIC

Get A Quick Quote