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31.2 Upkeep
Upkeep means that the mould should be kept well cleaned. Before closing the two
halves of the mould, an antirust spray may be used to prevent the rusting of the mould
parts. The mould should be stored preferably at a place where the humidity is low and
ambient temperature is not excessive. Moulds which are stored near a chemical factory
or storage, the cavity/core must be chromium plated otherwise due to the chemical
vapour, the core and cavity will get corroded or eroded. Rusting can be very much
minimized if the moulds are kept covered by PVC sheet covers.
31.3 Maintenance
It means that w should keep the moulds and bring them to production in a worthy
condition. We can do a preventive maintenance of the moulds and it would cover
examining mould for small damages. Check whether any problem with clearance and
the wedge blocks. If it is there, increase in the clearance of the moving parts,
the adjusting of the locking wedges. The cleaning of the water channels is a must
otherwise it will get rusted inside the hole and finally the flow of water will not be
sufficient. Then check for guide pins. Sometimes, any guide pin or cam pin may found
shaky in its holding hole. In that case, as a maintenance action, either a new pin may
be put or the existing one may be copper plated at the holding surface.
Material: Aluminium or soft tools will suffer wear and tear in a shorter period of time
than tools made of conventional tool steel. Mould made of hardened steel will last
longer than those made of conventional mould steel.
Moulding material: Materials with high melt temperatures wear out moulds quicker
than those with low temperatures. Higher melt temperature will expose the metal to
more heat and enhance material wear. Filler materials are abrasive to metal, they will
tend to wash the mould steel away after thousands of cycles.
Abuse: Excessive clamp pressures, high injection pressures, jerking the mould,
opening and closing the mould, not lubricating the appropriate components, multiple
ejection, crashing the mould closed or closing up on the partially ejected parts are a
sure road to increased maintenance.
Abuse can also be defined at the work place. A shop that is dirty, open to the outside
dust and dirt, machines with grease and absorbent on the floor all creates an
atmosphere for mould to wear out quicker. Area exposed to acid vapour, area of high
uncontrolled humidity or salt water, dry area with constant wind and dust cause
premature wear on the mould. When the mould is clogged or restricted cooling circuit,
this also is an abuse which is called Environmental Abuse.
So the upkeep and maintenance of the mould is very essential to keep the mould to run
beyond its life.
31.14 Revision