Methods/technologies for cleaning of moulding tools ?

[bipp]

Dear members,

I am concerned about some issues related to injection moulding of plastics. I mean surface appearance and mould cleaning from time to time.
Usually, how many cicles does a injection mould stands assuring a good surface finish of the products?
What kind of methods/technologies are commonly applied for cleaning of moulding tools?

Many thanks

Bipp

 

[dwightdixon]

Your question is too broad. Are we talking about high polish clear parts like CD disks? Are we talking opaque dull finish computer housings> What material used makes a big difference. Some material such as flame retardents plate out on the mold and must be cleaned every 4 hours. Other less critical molds need to be only wiped down once a day. Talk to any mold tech in your plant. He knows when to clean the tool. Sometime dry ice blasting is required but not normal. If it is a matt surface, a light vapor hone blast will clean up the surface. Talk to your material suppliers they have detail recommendations.