Automobile parts

In the manufacturing of automotive components, many people tend to overlook a fact: the success or failure of a mold is predetermined even before the first line is drawn.

There is an old saying in the industry: Mold design determines 70% or more of the fate of the mold. If the design is done well, the processing will be smooth, the trial run will be quick, and the mass production will be stable; if there are problems with the design, all subsequent processes will be like cleaning up after an accident.

Poor design leads to the mold's failure at the starting line

The most basic requirement is "can it be made". Automotive components have complex shapes. If the design stage does not consider demolding, gate placement, and exhaust, and only discovers these issues after the mold is completed - the product gets stuck and cannot be removed, the weld marks are exactly at the most stressed position, and trapped air causes burning and scorching. At this point, making changes will result in either light welding or the complete destruction of the mold core.

A higher-level requirement is "whether it is easy to make". Good design will consider the convenience of processing in the drawing: deep cavities are made as inserts rather than being excavated as a whole, cooling waterways avoid the pin holes, and the parting surfaces are made in an easily processed shape. On the contrary, a design that does not consider processing will cause the CNC to struggle for a long time, the EDM to take several days, and the mold maker to complain endlessly.

Cost, delivery time, and lifespan are all determined by the drawing sheet

The decisions made during the design stage directly determine the cost and delivery time of the mold. Proper insert design, appropriate material selection, and the full use of standard parts can reduce the mold cost by 30%. Spending an extra week in the design stage may save a month in the processing stage.

The lifespan of the mold also depends on the design. Are there inserts for the easily worn parts? Is the cooling uniform? Are there rounded corners at sharp corners? These details determine whether the mold will be scrapped after 200,000 mold cycles or can operate stably for more than 500,000 mold cycles.

For OEMs and component manufacturers, when choosing a mold supplier, what is more important to pay attention to than the quotation is the design level. Cheap molds with design problems will cost much more than the money saved.

After all, the fate of a mold is already written on the drawing sheet.