Cleaning and lubrication techniques for injection molds

1, Cleaning techniques for injection molds
Preliminary cleaning: After each production is completed, the mold should be immediately cleaned to remove plastic residue, oil stains, and dust on the surface. This can be achieved by blowing the surface of the mold with compressed air and gently wiping it with a soft cloth or brush.
Deep cleaning: For complex structures inside the mold, such as parting surfaces, gates, sliders, and ejector pins, specialized mold cleaning agents are required for deep cleaning. The selection of cleaning agents should be determined based on the type of plastic and the material of the mold, avoiding the use of cleaning agents that have a corrosive effect on the surface of the mold. When cleaning, you can use a soft brush or cotton cloth dipped in cleaning agent to gently wipe the surface and interior of the mold, paying special attention to cleaning the parting surface and the contact surface of the slider to ensure that there is no residue.
Rust and scale removal: For rust and scale layers on the surface of the mold, specialized rust and scale removal agents can be used for treatment. However, it should be noted that these chemical agents may cause certain damage to the surface of the mold. Therefore, before use, tests should be conducted on non critical parts of the mold to confirm accuracy before comprehensive treatment.
Drying and rust prevention: After cleaning, clean compressed air should be used to blow dry the moisture on the surface and inside of the mold to avoid residual moisture causing rusting of the mold. Afterwards, a thin layer of rust proof oil can be applied to the surface of the mold to further protect it from corrosion.
2, Lubrication techniques for injection molds
Lubricant selection: There are various types of lubricants for injection molds, including grease, paste, and solid lubricants. When choosing a lubricant, factors such as the working temperature of the mold, plastic type, mold material, and production cycle should be considered. For example, for high-temperature working environments, high-temperature resistant lubricants should be selected; For mold materials that are prone to corrosion, lubricants that have no corrosive effect on the mold surface should be selected.
Lubricant application: When applying lubricant, it should be ensured that the lubricant can evenly cover the key moving parts of the mold, such as the slider, ejector pin, guide post, and guide sleeve. Before application, the surface of the mold should be cleaned thoroughly to avoid impurities from entering the lubricant. When applying, tools such as brushes, cotton cloth, or specialized lubrication guns can be used to ensure that the lubricant can fully penetrate into the tiny gaps of the mold.
The setting of lubrication cycle: The setting of lubrication cycle should be determined based on the frequency of mold use, working environment, and type of lubricant. Generally, the mold should be lubricated before and after each production. For molds produced continuously, timely supplementary lubrication should be carried out according to the production cycle and the wear of the molds.
Lubrication treatment under special circumstances: For certain special types of molds, such as high-precision molds, mirror molds, etc., their lubrication requirements are more stringent. When lubricating such molds, lubricants with excellent lubrication performance and no damage to the mold surface should be selected, and the amount and application method of lubricants should be strictly controlled to avoid contamination or damage to the mold surface caused by lubricants.
3, Handling strategies in special circumstances
Treatment of scratches on the surface of molds: For minor scratches on the surface of molds, grinding paste or polishing agent can be used for repair. When repairing, it is necessary to conduct tests on non critical parts of the mold to confirm the repair effect before conducting comprehensive treatment. For severe scratches or damage, professional personnel should be contacted for repair or replacement of mold components.
Cleaning of residues inside the mold: For stubborn residues inside the mold, such as burnt plastic, metal fragments, etc., specialized mold cleaning agents and tools can be used for cleaning. For residues that are difficult to clean, methods such as heating and chemical dissolution can be used for treatment. However, it should be noted that these methods may cause certain damage to the surface of the mold, so tests should be conducted on non critical parts of the mold before use.
Rust prevention treatment of molds: For molds that have been idle for a long time, regular rust prevention treatment should be carried out. When rust prevention treatment is carried out, the mold should be cleaned first, then a thin layer of rust proof oil or rust inhibitor should be applied, and finally the mold should be stored in a dry and ventilated environment.