About Automation in Mold Secondary Processing: Advantages and Limitations

Mold secondary processing is the stage of manufacturing where molded products undergo additional finishing and assembly operations to achieve the desired final product. Automation in mold secondary processing can offer several advantages, but there are also some limitations to consider.

Advantages:

Increased efficiency: Automation can help speed up the mold secondary processing stage, reducing the overall time required to manufacture a product.

Improved consistency: Automation can help ensure that every product is finished to the same level of quality, reducing variability and improving product consistency.

Reduced labor costs: Automation can help reduce labor costs by reducing the number of workers required to perform the secondary processing tasks.

Enhanced safety: Automated equipment can perform tasks that are unsafe for human workers, improving workplace safety.

Increased flexibility: Automation can help manufacturers adapt to changes in demand by quickly reprogramming equipment to produce different products.

Limitations:

High capital costs: The initial investment required to purchase and set up automated equipment can be expensive, making it challenging for small businesses to implement.

Limited customization: Automated equipment is designed to perform specific tasks, limiting the level of customization that can be achieved.

Dependence on skilled operators: Automated equipment requires skilled operators to maintain and operate the machinery, which can be a limiting factor for some manufacturers.

Lack of adaptability: Automated equipment is typically designed for a specific task and may not be easily adapted to perform other functions, limiting its flexibility.

Risk of downtime: Automated equipment can be prone to breakdowns and malfunctions, leading to costly downtime and repair expenses.

Overall, automation in mold secondary processing can provide numerous advantages for manufacturers, including increased efficiency, improved consistency, reduced labor costs, enhanced safety, and increased flexibility. However, the high capital costs, limited customization, dependence on skilled operators, lack of adaptability, and risk of downtime should also be taken into account when considering automation for mold secondary processing.

FAQ

Date:2021-8-10

FAQ/ Frequently Asked Questions

As a plastic mold and injection molding company in China, we prepared answers for following most frequent asked queries for you, for more queries are always be here for you.

1. What info needed to get a correct mold quotation? How fast does it take to quote a project?

1)2D or 3D product drawing is needed for a mold quote;

2) If special requirement on mold steel, mold life, cavity quantity, hot runner requirement, part material, forecasted year quantity. Complete information will help to a most suitable cost effective, value added mold solution.

3) Normally take 2 working days to quote a new mold project seriously, and expedite quote is also available.

2. What’s the payment condition in TKB Mold?

1) New customer for mold: T/T 50% deposit, 50% against sample approval.

2) Mold modification: 100% upon sample approval.

3) Injection molding parts: 50% deposit, 50% before shipment.

4) VIP customer special terms: to be negotiated.

3. What’s the price terms/freight TKB mold will offer?

Normally TKB will offer ex-work TKB price for injection mold and plastic parts.
Free mold trial shotting samples free of charge and with freight to collect.
VIP customer special terms: to be negotiated.

4. What’s lead-time for a plastic mold and injection molding processes?

Injection mold lead-time counted from mold drawing approval and receipt of deposit to first mold trial(T1), and the difficulty of the molds determines how much time is needed, normally 20 to 60 days.

Injection molding lead-time counted from sample approval and receipt of deposit to production finish, order quantity determines how much time is needed, normally 7 to 15 days.

5. Will TKB send DMF to customer?

Yes，TKB Mold will send DFM (design for manufacturing) analysis and even mold flow analysis prior to the start of mold construction for customer review/approval.

6. Will TKB send mold design for approval?

After DMF approval, TKB will send the mould design for approval, and TKB will not start steel-cut before getting customers written approval of mold design.

7. How many plastic samples will be free provided?

TKB normally would provide 10~20 shots first mold trial shooting samples with gate(if have) free of charge according to the size of the parts, it would be freight to collect.

8. Which side provides plastic resin for injection mold trial?

TKB can provided plastic resin, if needed customer can provide the plastic resin the same.

9. How to make sure of quality before shipment?

shipment can be arranged only after TKB QC inspection PASS, or customer QC inspection PASS, or third-party inspection PASS if required. And TKB will always be there to provide full support.

10. How will TKB keep record of all mold data.

TKB will keep record of all final approved 2D, 3D mold drawing, modifications document, and send to customer for file to avoid future confusion in case engineering change is needed.