The maintenance procedures required for each injection molding location depend on different injection mold cycle cycles. The following are some general principles that each injection mold user can use to ensure the effective operation of injection mold components such as hot runners, heaters, guideposts, and thimble to prevent unexpected situations.
7 Overlooked Aspects Of Injection Mold Maintenance
1.Check if there is an early warning of rust or moisture at the diffuser hole.
If you find rust or moisture near the exhaust hole of the hot runner, it means that the internal condensation or the water pipe may be broken. Humidity can cause a fatal short circuit to the heater. If the injection mold machine is not running all year round but will be shut down at night or on weekends, the probability of such condensation will increase.
2. Glide stopper
For injection mold machines that run all year round, this work should be done once a week.
3. Cross-check the resistance of the heater
You should have measured the resistance of the heater when you first started using it. Now it’s time to measure and compare again. If the resistance value fluctuates by 10%, it is time to consider replacing the heater to ensure that it will not be out of the critical moment in the production process. If the initial resistance value has never been measured, then measure it now and use the obtained value as reference data for future inspection of the heater.
4. Check for signs of wear between the guide pin and the guide bushing
Look for signs of scratches or scratches, etc. This wear is due to a lack of lubrication. If the marks are just emerging, you can also extend the life of the guide pin and guide bushing by adding more lubrication. If the wear is severe, it is time to replace the new parts. Otherwise, the mold cavity and mold core parts may not fit well, causing the parts cavity walls to be thin and thick.
5. Check the water flow
Connect a hose at the outlet of the waterway and let the water stay in the bucket through the water pipe. If the outgoing water is not clear or has a color, rust may occur, and the lack of smooth flow means that it is blocked somewhere.
If you find these problems, drill all the water pipes again to ensure that they are unblocked (or use any method you use most often to clean them). Improving the plant’s water treatment system can prevent future problems caused by rust and blockages.
6. Cleaning the ejector pin
After a year, the ejector pin will become dirty due to gas accumulation and film-like impurities. It is recommended to clean it with mold cleaner every six to twelve months. After cleaning, apply a layer of lubricant to the ejector pin to prevent scratches or breakage.
7. Check whether there is a break in the radius area of the hot filling nozzle
The break is caused by the loose and hard plastic fragments remaining in the hot nozzle of the machine from the clamping force brought by the plastic injection tube assembly during the forward injection. The cause of the problem may also be that the centerline is not aligned.
These two possibilities should be considered when finding a fracture. If the damage has been severe enough to prevent petal-shaped leakage (a term used by mold users in the past: refers to the plastic leakage between the guide bushing and the hot nozzle head of the machine), the sprue bushing should be replaced.
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