Description
Rotational Cast Aluminum Tooling
or Molds
Tooling made from aluminum castings are by far the most common type of
rotational molds. They are relatively inexpensive and can be cast, machined,
and framed quickly. High quality castings with low porosity will produce a wide
range of parts with fairly intricate detail, elaborate shapes and patterned
finishes. Aluminum tools are well suited to produce air or water tight plastic
parts as well.
Aluminum molds are lightweight, and transfer and dissipate heat well making
them ideal for repeated cycles through rotational molding ovens. Cast
tools can be modified after they have been put into production to accommodate
slight changes to the parts design.
When your part goes into production, there is no substitute for using a quality
mold. A poorly designed or built tool will inevitably lead to slower production
runs and mold failure ad lost production time. Yixing Technology will guide
you through the process to ensure you select the right tool for your
application.
Aluminum Cavity
The cast aluminum cavity is built with three sides. In this particular tool,
the sides are formed with one seam and the top forms a seam just below the lip
of the barrel. This design produces a seam-free top.
Interior Finish
Each mold has a specific texture inside. This ranges from a highly polished,
smooth surface to a deep patterned texture which forms the parts surface.
Steel Framework
These molds are filled repeatedly throughout the production run. A steel tube
frame provides the structure to fasten the sides of the mold together creating
a tight clean seal.
Bolted Fasteners
The steel frame contains regularly spaced spring-loaded fasteners, normally 6
to 8-inch harden steel bolts, to securely close the cavity during the molding
cycle. Torque-limited power tools are used to carefully open and close the
mold.
Alignment Tracks
Some mold components require precise alignment to ensure a clean seal and to
improve cycle times. This mold used a track and wheel design to slide the top
of the mold into exact alignment.
Platform
The framework is welded to a steel platform. This allows the rotational mold to
be clamped onto to the machine’s arm so they can rotate freely without
obstruction.
Crain Hooks
Each mold will have four even spaced hooks to easily position the mold onto the
machine arm.
