April 2021 - Selmax Corporation

Mold Tooling Transfer 101: Developing a Schedule

April 29, 2021 2:59 pm 1 Comment

plastic mold transfer

Developing a schedule is the next step in the mold transfer process. At this stage, you have already defined the problem, found the right molder, and gathered all the important facts and data.

Based on the data gathered from the current molder, you can now begin to work with your new molder to develop a sensible transfer schedule. Under perfect conditions, your transfer process will go something like this:

You’re able to obtain up-to-date mold and part drawings to provide to the new molder.
The mold has been well-maintained and is running at full cavitation at the current molder.
Mold qualification records are available and provided to the new molder.
You have a “Golden Sample” to provide to the new molder that is in spec.
You have ample inventory built as safety stock to sustain you during the transfer process.
You’ll be able to talk or meet with the machine operator and/or process technician at the current molder to learn the setup and techniques they used.
You will get all support equipment, tools, fixtures or jigs used in conjunction with running your parts. If these are not available, a list and photographs of these items should be provided to the new molder.
The current molder will thoroughly clean the mold and coat it with rust preventive before sending.
Raw materials will be ordered and waiting at your new molder before the mold is scheduled to arrive.
The current molder will efficiently pack up and ship the mold to your new molder.
The mold will arrive at the new molder where it will be opened, inspected, and cleaned.
The new molder will install it into a press, set up the correct parameters, and begin the testing process.
First-article parts will be collected and given to QA. Upon the new molder’s QA approval, the parts will be shipped to you for inspection and approval before production is scheduled.

When it comes to mold transfers, expect the best but plan for the worst.

mold transfer planning

When everything goes smoothly, the process is fairly routine. However, things don’t always go according to plan, so it’s important to be prepared for the wrenches that will inevitably be thrown into the schedule.

Sometimes the tool hasn’t been properly maintained, is damaged or completely defunct upon arrival.
Sometimes critical processing information is not passed along from the previous molder to the new molder.
Sometimes support equipment wasn’t mentioned, so the new molder has to learn the nuances of the project by trial and error until the perfect part is achieved.

Regardless of how detailed your instructions are from the previous molder, you should always allow time for these possibilities when developing your mold tooling transfer schedule.

Be sure to gather the most important information that will be most likely to affect the transfer schedule. Things such as confirming that the mold is currently running at full cavitation, ruling out any special features the mold might have, and confirming tool validation requirements can help keep your schedule on track and eliminate the risk of surprises.

Ready to Start the Mold Transfer Process?

Selmax Corporation is a full-service plastic injection molder that specializes in mold transfers. We have been helping our customers efficiently make high-quality parts for over 50 years.

Take the first step today.

Request a Quote

More in this series:

Step 1: Defining the Problem

Step 2: Finding the Right Molder

Step 3: Gathering Facts and Data

Step 5: Planning Your Inventory

Step 6: Showing Your Tools Some TLC

Step 7: Defining Success for Testing and Sampling

Step 8: Identifying Risks and Opportunities

Step 9: Planning for Production

Step 10: Evaluating Results

Mold Tooling Transfer 101: Gathering Facts & Data

April 16, 2021 11:45 am 2 Comments

mold transfer

You’ve found the ideal plastic injection molder for your tooling transfer(s). Now it’s time to start gathering information. This stage is important and should be handled carefully and tactically.

Identify Key Players

At this stage, it’s important to identify the key players in the mold transfer process. They are:

Project manager. This person is responsible for overseeing each step of the process and typically has a high-level of technical skill and experience.
Tooling technician. Senior-level expert responsible for evaluating the molds and creating the documentation required to make improvements to ensure qualified products will be molded according to expectations.
Quality. Specialist responsible for evaluating parts, gauges and fixtures, and creates metrology instructions and inspection reports, etc.
Process technician. The Process Tech and team qualify the transferred mold(s) in one or more presses and fine tune the process to ensure an efficient process window in the new environment.

Establish a strong relationship with the project manager at the new molder. Get a list of any information they might need to make the transfer process more efficient.

Gather Existing Data

Find and review the contract with your current molder and have it ready to reference.

Now is the time to identify and compile any available 3D CAD files and 2D prints for the part and mold design along with material specifications, injection molding processing parameters, and applicable quality control requirements. Your new molder will use these to get an accurate quote and develop the best plan for your mold test and qualification.

If you cannot locate these items or they don’t exist, you will need to discuss the risks and implications with the project manager. You may need to add some cushion to your timeline to account for the extra time needed to test the molds, finesse the process, and produce acceptable parts.

Visit the Current Molder

When possible, it can be invaluable to visit the current molder to observe your mold running. Often, experienced operators will have specific shortcuts, tips, or tweaks to make the mold run more efficiently. Take notes because this information is integral in a successful mold transfer process. Having this information helps the new molder get set up and running quality parts faster.

Take Necessary Precautions

It is always good to be extra careful when you’re planning a tooling transfer. It’s wise to wait as long as possible to tell your current molder that you plan to move your molds. Especially if the molds are being run overseas, some molders may lose motivation to act in your best interest after learning that they’re losing your business. It is better to have everything in place at the new supplier before notifying your current molder.

It should be noted that transferring your tooling can be a great opportunity to calibrate your processes and get a third-party evaluation on the condition of the mold and quality of the parts being produced.

Ready to Start the Transfer Process?

Selmax Corporation is a full-service plastic injection molder that specializes in mold transfers. We have been helping our customers produce high-quality parts for over 50 years.