Plastics moulding tools in aluminium alloys can be made about 30% cheaper than the equivalent steel product, and therefore lend themselves to lower quantity batches.
By correct choice of material grades, plastics moulding tools in aluminium alloys can be made about 30% cheaper than the equivalent steel product, and therefore lend themselves to lower quantity batches. With the ever increasing pressures on both delivery times and costs, Toolcraft Plastics of Swindon have set out methods for the quick production of mould tooling using low cost materials. Designed primarily to support their own fast response plastics moulding facility, tool production is also available to others.

By correct choice of material grades, tools in aluminium alloys can be made about 30% cheaper than the equivalent steel product, and therefore lend themselves to lower quantity batches.

They are easier and faster to machine, with deliveries typically 50% of normal delivery times.

Being lighter they are more easily handled, do not rust and are generally corrosion resistant, particularly against PVC induced contaminants.

Also as aluminium conducts heat four times better than steel, tools run cooler, and can therefore be run faster, resulting ultimately in lower parts costs.

Polishing is also easier, for a high grade finish on the moulded components.

Fully equipped with modern CAD/CAM facility Toolcraft can work with customer's own tooling IGES/STL ( and other) files or design the mould from the component design files.

Final 'edge' comes with Toolcraft's ability to set up quickly and run the tools for trialing, prototypes, or production in all the standard plastic materials.

Toolcraft Plastics, who have years of experience in all forms of tooling, have an abbreviated analysis 'on the web'.