Purchasing used plastic injection molding machines can be easy if you know the right steps to take. During the buying process, there a number of issues you need to be aware of in order to minimize production problems associated with using second hand molds. Some of the potential production problems that are associated with used molds include slow cycle times, poor part quality, molding below full cavitation, as well as constant machine stoppages due to poor part ejection. The following are some of the steps you should take in order to purchase quality used molding machines.
One of the things you need to do is ask to see the molding machine producing samples in person or by video link. It is by doing this that you will be able to get an accurate idea of the cycle time as well as current part quality issues. Better yet, you can get the mold shipped to your factory so that you test it yourself. The same you get to test drive a car before you buy it, you should test drive a used molding machine before buying it.
Another thing you need to do when looking for the right used plastic injection molds is ask for the latest samples from all cavities. You should weigh each sample and measure all wall thicknesses in order to get an accurate picture of the condition of the mold. Keep in mind that any large variation in cavity weights or wall thicknesses can cause immediate production problems, so make sure that you allow for this in your planning.
In case the used plastic injection molding machine you want to buy has a cold runner, you should ask for a runner sample. This is required to accurately measure shot size. You should also measure runner thickness and then compare it to the part wall thickness. If a runner is too thin, it will make it difficult to mold quality parts.
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