Injection molding tools with quick-change systems

In addition to the highest quality requirements for mold manufacturing, it is often the economic aspects that determine the decision to invest. High-cavity injection molds with high output rates must be capable of short cycle times, combined with great flexibility and ease of maintenance. Looking at societal trends, it also becomes evident that consumer demand for individual products or various product variants is increasing across industries.

This results in a correspondingly high number of different mold part variants, often characterized by geometries that are locally different. Different core inserts or mold pins are required for this, which normally need to be exchanged through elaborate assembly work during the process. Therefore, for manufacturing various mold variants, the interchangeability of core inserts and mold pins offers a flexible, cost-effective alternative that can be implemented without long setup times.

Among the systems patented by Braunform, there is a distinction between the quick-change system for individual sections and the modular construction. By simply actuating a holding device, cores and pins of different geometries can be exchanged within the quick-change system, while in the modular design, complete assemblies and thus large-area mold sections can be swapped out with simple hand movements. A solution has been developed for replacing nozzle-side inserts, which incorporates a sidegate nozzle. The created module can be separated from the mold during disassembly via a detachable electrical connection, without additional work, eliminating the need for complex wiring.

The modular design allows for more compact injection molds, with each module essentially functioning as a small tool in itself. By directly centering the inserts on the ejector side to the nozzle side, wear is reduced because the thermal expansion of the mold plates has less influence when the inserts are floating, known as floating cavities. The modules can be used in a pilot form for testing purposes before final installation into the production mold. This serial-like pilot phase reduces risk and provides project security, resulting in a time advantage during the optimization phase.

Thanks to this cost efficiency, such as reduced setup times, higher initial investments in pilot and production molds are amortized in the shortest possible time. In cases of repairs or maintenance, modules can be quickly exchanged, minimizing production downtime and enabling continuous production. Another advantage is seen in pharmaceutical applications and plastics production in cleanrooms. Since only a module needs to be exchanged using the quick-change system during setup work, the time-consuming process of inserting and removing the entire mold is eliminated.