What's New
at International Mold Steel
Articles
GET THE HEAT OUT
Simple Solutions That Work™ April 2020
Using High Thermal Conductivity Steel to Reduce Cycle time, Reduce Scrap, and Improve Part Quality
There are many benefits to increasing the cooling rate for an aluminum part in a die cast die. Reducing cycle time is an important cost savings. Improved part quality due to better cast structure of the aluminum, as well as reduced porosity is another. However, there is a limit to how many waterlines, and how close these water lines can be to the molding surface, before gross cracking of the die causes premature die failure in an H13 die. Tungsten alloy components have high thermal conductivity, but their high cost and low mechanical strength limit their practical applications.
English:
Spanish:
CHOOSING THE RIGHT DIE STEEL
Simple Solutions That Work™ April 2018
In today’s die cast market you have many different steels to choose from. North American Die Casting Association publishes a list of different types of Hot Works steels to choose from when selecting a material for an upcoming job.
English:
Spanish:
New stainless mold base steel offers high machinability and improved thermal conductivity
Industeel ArcelorMittal has developed an original patented free-machining martensitic stainless steel called SuperPlast Stainless (SPS), that has seen good success in the marketplace among mold base manufacturers. Mold bases manufactured with SPS offer high machinability to provide both high productivity and longer tool life, thus reducing costs.
Alternative to Conventional Steel for Mould Inserts Extends Tool Life, Cuts Costs
“Toolox is actually well suited for everything,” says Tony Bäckman, the owner of ToBe Teknik, “but we consider it most beneficial in the production of reinforced materials that cause heavier wear on the moulds than other plastics.”
Cutting Tool Costs
“We used Toolox 44 as somewhat of a last attempt to repair the die and make it last longer/’ he says. It was a success. With the A2 and D2 tool steels, we were getting probably 10,000 to 15,000 hits before the die broke. With the Toolox 44, we did 254,000 hits on the die insert.”
The Solution for a Discerning Market
Read how Spanish company Metalurgicas ARNAL used Toolox to cut costs by reducing processing times.
International Mold Steel adds value by providing solutions to customers
PRICE. It’s the main buzzword in the service center industry— at least among companies that sell commodity products.
Why 8% Chrome Cold Work Die Steels are the Fastest Growing Tool Steels
In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the Japanese Specialty Steel industry took a different direction than their U.S. and European counterparts.
TOOLING:
Solutions Start in the Mold
LeVic Plastics overcomes challenges with its approach to tooling, including a creative way to vent using porous mold steel.
What You Should Consider When Purchasing P20 Steel
When buying P20 steels, moldmakers should be aware of the variations and key issues that affect delivery, cost and leadtimes.
High-performance coating helps stamper fight downtime
Dies last longer, need no regrinding
New CrN Tool Coatings Keep Going and Going and Going…
Phygen PVD-applied chromium-nitride coatings on deep-draw tools, form tools and cutting-tool edges last longer than other coatings, and they go on with minimal heating of the tool, preventing distortion and other unsavory side effects of hotter coating processes. Here are two testimonials.
Matrix High-Speed Steels — Economical Alternative to Powders
If fracturing, chipping and microchipping plague your tooling, consider using a new breed of tool steel.
Steel Selection – Closing the Gap with Offshore Tooling
The most discussed topic in the mold building industry today is cheaper tooling from offshore competition.
Pre-Hardened Tool Steel Saves Time and Money
Using NAK55 standard mold bases allows moldmakers to focus on crucial core and cavity work.
High-Performance Mold Steel
In the past 30 years there have been tremendous improvements in machine and cutting tool technologies. High-speed machining can accomplish cutting speeds and accuracies that toolmakers in the past could only dream of.
Is It Tough Enough for You?
Can a new tool steel that machines like butter really be tough enough to withstand the pounding that a Tier One automotive stamping plant will put it through? We ask an “old D-2 boy” what he thinks.
Prehardened Mold Steels offer Machinability and Weldability
For decades P-20 has been the most widely used steel for making large plastic injection molds. It offers a good combination of hardness, machinability, and toughness, but its properties are not always consistent.