Choosing a Chinese Mold builder
Choosing a Chinese Mold builder
(OP)
Does anyone know of a decent checklist for qualifying a mold builder to fabricate molds for me? I am looking to get the same information from multiple shops in China to compare and try to choose a few good ones based on that information.






RE: Choosing a Chinese Mold builder
If so a trip to their facilities would be a good idea. Also talk to existing customers in developed countries.
The obvious things are
Grade and quality of steel.
Surface finish in important areas.
Quality and direction of polish re effect on ejection.
Position and number of ejector pin.
Position and number of cooling channels.
Size and placement of support pillars.
Size of back plate vs your pattern.
Is ejection compatible with your machine.
Parting line tolerance.
Allowance for shrinkage and ability to correct critical areas if need be.
Position of gates.
Size of runners and gates.
Design of runners and gates.
Position of vents.
Do vents have a small land then very big clear passages to atmosphere.
If there are side cores how do they blank of, is it adjustable and are the mechanisms robust.
If it has hot runners, how are they controlled. Where are the thermostats and elements.
Can he precisely reproduce the drawing in all areas. To what precision.
Regards
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RE: Choosing a Chinese Mold builder
Methods of
Indicating in a block
picking up electrodes for the EDM
Conveying information to the different departments
In process checking
As well as:
Where they purchase their tool steel
Where they heattreat their tool steel
Ability to plate or coat finished blocks
Again thanks for the input, and if anyone has knowledge of a checklist like this.
RE: Choosing a Chinese Mold builder
RE: Choosing a Chinese Mold builder
I was a toolmaker for many years, so I do know a quality mold when I see one. I am looing more for a checklist of procedures and checks/balances that Asain suppliers might use to ensure consistancy in the quality of their work. Something I can rate them on against each other. I just returned from a week in China visiting tool building shops and had a makeshift checklist that I created. It worked OK, I was just looking for some input while I was creating it. If you are interested I have attached it here.
Matt
RE: Choosing a Chinese Mold builder