Tooling: Engineering's 1st Hurdle
First Step of Assuring Effective Start Upsstandardized cleaning and preventative maintenance. Cleaning is highly dependent upon the type of material you are using. For instance, ABS and Nylon blends have a tendency to gas up quickly, Where Polypropylene and Polyethylene tend to be cleaner and require less maintenance. It is important to recognize the material characteristics of each material you work with, and respond accordingly.Cleaning itself is standard, and response requires a standardized approach: A) When cleaning, use an approved mold cleaner. Avoid application to polished surfaces. Do not apply mold cleaner to the surface being cleaned (whenever possible)... instead apply to the cleaning utensil (rag/ tissue as applies to the tooling application) B)Pay close attention to vented areas. If a vent exists, it is important to recognize that vents are generally put in for venting gas from the cavity. Clean vents liberally and inspect them for wear/ damage. C)While cleaning, inspect tool for damage and wear-causing conditions (in ex: lack of lubrication, galling, broken components, etc.). Check the machine for damage that could cause future problems to itself or the mold running. At press shutdown, spray the mold liberally with a rust preventative. Again, inspect for damage or potential failures. NEVER put a clamp under high pressure at shutdown, unless you are changing the mold. Touch the mold halves together, empty the barrel of material, purging with a safe storage material. Suck the screw back to 1.00"Drop the heats to a standby condition. Turn off all water and thermolators( reducing temps to allow machine to purge) and then power down all sources of voltage to the press. |
