New strategy for thermoforming multi-cavity mold design

New strategy for thermoforming multi-cavity mold design
, improve production efficiency and product quality

In the plastic products industry, the design and application of multi-cavity molds have always been an important means to improve production efficiency and reduce costs. Especially in the field of thermoforming, such as vacuum forming and air pressure forming, the design of multi-cavity molds is even more crucial. Recently, industry experts conducted in-depth discussions on the design strategy of thermoforming multi-cavity molds, aiming to further optimize mold design and improve product quality and production efficiency.

1. Overview of multi-cavity mold design

Multi-cavity molds refer to thermoforming molds that mold multiple products at one time, and are suitable for mass production of small products such as plastic beverage cups and trays. This type of mold can make full use of the molding area and complete the production of multiple products through one molding, thus greatly improving production efficiency and reducing product costs.

2. Solve the problem of uneven wall thickness

A major problem in multi-cavity mold production is uneven wall thickness, which seriously affects the sealing and overall quality of the product. In order to solve this problem, industry experts have proposed the method of adding an auxiliary plunger on the outer edge of the mold cavity. The design of the auxiliary plunger needs to be based on the requirements of the specific product, as shown in Figure 1. Its height H is usually recommended to be 0.3 to 1.5 times the depth h of the mold cavity. The shape and size of the auxiliary plunger also need to be accurately designed according to the characteristics of the product and production requirements.

3. Determination of cavity spacing

When designing a multi-cavity mold, determining the cavity spacing is also a key step. For female mold vacuum forming, the cavity spacing only needs to leave room for final trimming of the plastic part. However, for multi-cavity positive mold vacuum forming, the cavity spacing L must be greater than the height H of the auxiliary plunger to prevent the occurrence of wrinkles. Therefore, it is best to use female molding for multi-cavity molding to improve the utilization rate of the plate.

4. Design optimization and future prospects

With the continuous advancement of technology and continuous changes in the market, the design of multi-cavity molds also requires continuous optimization and innovation. In the future, designers will pay more attention to the intelligent and automated design of molds, as well as material selection and optimization of mold structures. At the same time, with the improvement of environmental awareness, how to reduce energy consumption and waste emissions during the mold production process will also become the focus of designers.

The design of thermoforming multi-cavity molds is an important means for the plastic products industry to improve production efficiency and product quality. Through continuous optimization and innovation of design strategies, it is believed that multi-cavity molds will be widely used in more fields in the future, injecting new vitality into the development of the industry.