TAKE TIME TO SAVE TIME: Five Steps in Mold Design to Reduce Back-End Troubleshooting

Back in 2017, Westminster Tool implemented a more proactive plastic-quality design process. These were projects that were their least successful in regard to timing, budget and part quality. They took a deep dive into all of them to find the root causes of the problems, and what they discovered was...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plastics Technology 2022-06, Vol.68 (6), p.48-50
Main Authors: Thomas, Hillary, Hale, Seth
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Computed tomography
Dimensional analysis
Injection molding
Medical imaging
Risk analysis
Risk assessment
Success
Three dimensional models
Three dimensional printing
Tolerances
Trouble shooting
Troubleshooting
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Back in 2017, Westminster Tool implemented a more proactive plastic-quality design process. These were projects that were their least successful in regard to timing, budget and part quality. They took a deep dive into all of them to find the root causes of the problems, and what they discovered was that in all five cases, the crux of the issue was plastic part quality--issues with tolerances and dimensions that they easily could have avoided in the beginning if they had just had the right discussions with their customers. As a result of that deep dive, Westminster Tool now undertakes five steps on every project during design: Compare 2D prints to 3D models; CT scan existing parts if there are any; complete a dimensional risk analysis; understand Cpk goals; and perform a Moldex3D simulation. Here, Thomas and Hale share how the one week it typically takes to perform these five steps in the design phase can save three weeks or more in an overall tool build.
ISSN:0032-1257
2169-7566