In het tooling proces van het productontwikkelingsproces maken we in eigen huis prototypes met diverse 3D-printers om vast te kunnen stellen dat de productiebestanden gereed zijn voor het vervaardigen van de matrijstekeningen en de feitelijke productiematrijs.
In injection molding, the mold ensures that the injected liquid plastic solidifies into the correct shape with high precision and speed (cycle time).
In the tooling process of product development, we use various 3D printers in-house to verify that the production files are ready for creating mold drawings and the actual production mold. productiematrijs.
The production tools for plastic or metal parts are called molds. They are used in injection molding, metal stamping, or vacuum forming. These molds are usually made of (hardened) metal and can be internally cooled. The layout of the component determines how a production mold is structured. It outlines how the product (or part) is manufactured within the mold. The mold structure is closely tied to the intended production volumes. A multi-cavity mold can produce larger quantities faster, but typically requires a larger machine with more clamping force and represents a higher initial investment. This highlights the importance of making the right trade-offs between production costs and investment.
If specific tools are needed for assembly, they can be manufactured, whether by GBO Innovation makersor elsewhere. By taking (automated) assembly into account early on, we can reduce the cost price and enable further scaling effectively.
Making molds is a specialized craft, with our 3D CAD files serving as the foundation. Based on the mold. layout, which includes the product as well as cooling channels, ejector pins, and gate locations, the mold is constructed. Techniques like wire EDM, milling, turning, and laser welding are used for this.
In injection molding, the mold ensures that the injected liquid plastic solidifies into the correct shape with high precision and speed (cycle time). The cycle time describes the entire process: from closing the mold, injecting the liquid plastic, solidifying, and ejecting the product. The cycle time is primarily determined by the thickness of the plastic, which in turn affects solidification time. A longer cycle time means higher machine time per product, which is a significant factor in the cost price. A well-thought-out product design takes all these aspects into account.
Rob Crins
Director / Partner
“We engineer in such a way that there are as few assembly steps as possible. By collaborating with the client and designing smartly, we try to keep cost of goods as low as possible."
