Pocket-forming technique eliminates plate warping

At Pelco Tool & Mold, Glendale Heights, IL, a designer and builder of precision injection molds, there are many reasons for sticking with the same mold base supplier for the past six years.

Competitive cost, reliable delivery, customer service, and local sales and technical support are key, according to Rob Suva, one of Pelco's three owners. But most important, he says, is that the supplier of 85% of mold bases purchased by his company flame-cuts the plate pockets, which leads to a tremendous savings in time and money, he says.

Before shifting their business to Superior Die Set Corporation, Pelco employees did all milling of through-pockets in all mold base plates, ranging in thickness from 7/8" to 8".

A major problem was plate warping. "Whenever you rough-machine the pockets in solid finished 'A' and 'B' plates from a mold base. The plates will inevitably warp and twist due to the normal stresses in the steel, and you lose the alignment," says Suva.

"When this happened, we had to press the leader pins and bushings out, regrind the plates flat, rejig grind the alignment holes, chrome-plate the pins and bushings, then grind them to fit the new hole sizes," he adds. "We had to reschedule the plates back into the machining center to finally complete all the finishing work." "For a small charge, we get 'A' and 'B' rates with flame-cut pockets that have only 1/16" to 1/8" of stock per wall," adds Suva. "The plates are flat, and the pins and bushings are in perfect alignment for a smooth-operating mold base. We simply mill the opening to our finish sizes, and we don't worry about warping or twisting."

Slide lock

Suva points to another exclusive from his primary mold base supplier that further reduces mold-building time for Pelco's staff of 28 skilled workers. Superior's patented slide lock, offered in three sizes and weight capacities, is easily designed and installed in the mold base, he says.

"And it's a great alternative to conventional retainers, ball plungers, springs and other unreliable devices with a high rate of failure that presents major problems for the customer."

Superior, slide locks are part of all molds delivered by Pelco, subject to customer approval, according to Suva. Recessed into the slide, the lock is disengaged when the mold base is closed and slides are in position. With the base open and slides retracted, it locks for a strong, secure hold.

With sales now five times what they were when Suva and his partners purchased the company in 1991, Pelco is riding a wave of success based on an increase of work from present customers and an expanded customer base.

"Our ultimate goal is to ensure total customer satisfaction, which starts with building a top-quality mold and getting it to the customer on time," says Suva. "It's essential that suppliers like Superior and all others have a focus on what we're tying to accomplish, and that benefits everyone over the long term"

For further information contact Superior Die Set Corporation, Oak Creek, WI.