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TOPIC: Quick Mold Change System
 

Submitted: August, 2006

I am looking for a quick mold change system to clamp our molds on to the platens. Does anyone have experience with this type of clamping system?

Quick mold change (QMC) is a very broad topic. Are we talking about just clamping the mold to the platens or are we talking about clamping, connecting water lines, connecting electrical and air, etc. What is the goal for time savings on a typical production mold change?

There are so many facets of a mold change to be considered that one must consider how deep you want to go. Make sure to consider all of the details of the mold change before a decision is made on a system to implement. If a system is implemented that just automates clamping the mold to the platen and then later it is determined that water connections need to be automated, a redesign of the clamping system may be necessary to incorporate the water system.

Two companies that specialize in QMC are www.astar.com and www.clrh.com, each of which has developed systems, products and procedures for quick mold change.

As you look through their products you can decide which company will suit your needs.

QMC has to start in the engineering department. Once a company decides on a QMC system, all of the tools that run in that machine will need to be built to work with the QMC system. Keep this in mind.