If your tools need be mold texturing or mold etching after Standard Polish in China. Please see the below information of standard polish before mold texturing:
A. The pattern depth < 40 micron requires 800# sandpaper at least.
B. The pattern depth 40 – 80 micron requires 600# sandpaper at least.
C. The pattern depth > 80 micron requires 400# sandpaper at least.
Acid Test Technical Requirements:
A. The acid test on your tools can be finished at your toolmaker in China before mold texturing & mold etching.
B. Yuan Su can act as your third-party supervision company for your tool projects to perform acid tests in China, helping to avoid welding issues and steel material differences by the toolmaker.
C. Yuan Su will issue detailed reports and feedback regarding the acid test results to ensure quality standards are met.
Before the acid test, please ensure the following operations are reviewed:
A. If the draft angle of mold texturing is insufficient, we will reduce the texture depth gradually to ensure successful demolding.
B. General Rule:
You require 1° of draft for each 13μ of texture finish depth.
A draft angle of at least 1.5° to 2° is generally recommended. The deeper the texture, the greater the required draft angle. We can calculate the safest pattern depth / release low-draft angle mold texturing solutions for you based on the specific mold’s touch draft angle.
Professional Advice:
Please check whether your tools require mold etching in advance when designing the Draft Angle. You should verify the texturing pattern or Grain No. depth alongside the Draft Angle. Reserving enough Draft Angle is essential to avoiding dragging marks during later injection molding processes.
Example: Improper welding causes visible marks after VDI 3400 etching.
Standard Welding Procedure:
A. Pre-heat: Thoroughly pre-heat the mold prior to any welding operation to minimize thermal stress.
B. Material Matching: Always weld the mold using a welding rod made of the same steel as the parent metal (base material).
C. Heat Treatment: Post-weld heat-treat the entire mold to ensure uniform temperature and consistent material hardness.
Textured mold steel requirements steel with a uniform microstructure and free of impurities is best, such as P20, S136, or H13. If the steel contains more impurities, chemical etching is prone to producing material lines and pits, while laser etching is more compatible with different types of steel.
1. Avoid welding as much as possible. If welding is unavoidable, improper welding techniques or mismatched welding rods can result in “weld marks” or “Color difference” after chemical etching or laser texturing. Ensuring the consistency of the steel’s chemical composition is crucial for consistent texture.
2. The tempering temperature and time are very important for the fusion of steel weld joints. The correct sequence is to first temper locally, then place the entire mold in the tempering furnace for further heating and fusion, which is beneficial for chemical etching or laser texturing.
Glossiness is typically divided into the following three categories achieved by sandblasting the mold surface:
A. Gloss (High reflection)
B. Semi-gloss (Satin finish)
C. Matt (Low reflection / Dull)
Yes. By using sandblasting processes in gloss level control in mold texturing with different grit ratios in the later stages, the matteness of the surface can be adjusted within a certain range to achieve the desired feel and appearance for the customer.
Yes. We use high gloss mold etching process and first perform high-magnification mirror polishing on the mold, and then use a laser to selectively engrave micro-textures in specific areas. This strong light / matte visual contrast can significantly enhance the product’s brand image.
Note: The final glossiness of plastic parts depends not only on the mold surface finish but also on the material properties and the adjustment of temperature and pressure during the injection trials.
To ensure optimal surface results, please review these essential mold details:
To differentiate the type of pattern and the location damaged / scratches on the mold structure, for regular patterns, if they are not serious, we will first perform local repair welding and polishing, and then use portable equipment or re-alignment to perform secondary etching to make the repaired area perfectly connect with the surrounding texture.
The quality of repair work is the ultimate test of our technicians’ technical ability and professional spirit.
Important Maintenance Notice:
Please protect your mold surface from scratches, rust, and improper welding after the mold texturing process is finished.
Texture repair is a high-precision task that is closely related to
Welding
Standard Polish
Acid Test
Gloss Control