Steel Metal Selection for YourRapid Tooling
The technology of rapid tooling is developing quickly in the industry. How to select the corrected steel and build the tool quickly are the critical topic nowadays. Al7075, P20, S136H, NAK80 steels are commonly used as steel metal in Rapid Tooling. Let's discuss the differences between each item and learn more about their properties here.
The 4 Main Metals Used for Rapid Tooling
Al 7075
Combines with good manufacturability and a excellent performance of injection. Al 7075 is used commonly as the steel metal choice for a low volume production mold. It is an alloy with great strength of aluminum alloy properties; however, it cannot be welded. It has good mechanical properties along with solid wear resistance and is easy to be machined. It can help to build a Rapid Prototype Tooling in several days. With Al 7075, it is a possibility to have most textures applied. You can have a quick turnaround mold by using Al 7075 as steel metal. The challenge is the mold’s lifetime. For accuracy, a Al7075 rapid tool molding quantity would range from 5,000 to 10,000 parts and the maximum quantity varies based on a part’s geometry and injection resin. It would be a good choice for low volume production.
P20
P20 steel is widely used as Rapid Tooling steel. The hardness of P20 is uniform with good finish performance. Corrosion carved performance and a good processing performance make it can be directly used for mold processing. It also has the characteristics of good dimensional stability. The tool’s lifetime can extend much longer when compared with Al 7075. The molds are generally serviceable for around 50,000 to 100,000 shots, and with a normal polish and most textures able to be applied onto the steel surface, it lends itself quite favorable. Considering the quick production, effective cost and a long tool life, P20 steel mold would be a preferable choice.
S136H & NAK80
Pre-hardened steel does not need heat treatment. It has excellent durability and mechanical characteristics and can also reduce the risk of cracking. S136H & NAK80 are commonly used as tool steel with high gloss and high polishing requirements in comparison with the P20 steel. These two steels are harder and are around 35 - 45HRC even without heat treatment. The tool lifetime ranges up to 500,000 shots depending on the structure and injection resin.
Rapid Tooling and Rapid Prototype Tooling to Get Your Plastic Quickly
There are many types of rapid tooling available, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages for your plastic parts. Before diving into any type of rapid tooling, make sure to consider the limitations of each type.
1. The rapid tooling must be strong enough to handle the intense injection molding process. This is because the machine measures the weight of the material being used to create the mold.
2. The rapid tooling should be smooth enough to easily eject a plastic part. In some cases, the material built up in the cavity could require additional work to make it ready for molding prototypes and plastic parts. This means the rapid tooling mold could require additional work after it is created to make it smooth enough for prototyping.
3. Not having enough tolerances can cause a plastic injection mold to leak or produce unusable parts. This can also be very dangerous since it could affect the quality of the finished product.
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