Issuu

April 2013

Canadian

MOLD,TOOL &die making

CNC MACHINERY FOR MOLD, TOOL & DIE MAKING Multi-axis milling

CUTTING TOOLS FOR MOLDS Faster metal removal

MOLD MATERIALS P20 or not P20?

MOLDMAKING COMPONENTS What’s new, now

MARKET outlook The road ahead...

A supplement to and

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contents

Reshoring is real

o anyone following the mass media in this country, it would seem that manufacturing is dead or dying. But the truth, as always, is far more complex. While job growth in manufacturing is flat to negative, the reality is that moldmaking is enjoying something of a renaissance in Canada, due to several positive developments. Molds are becoming more specialized, more complex, and just plain bigger. Today’s molds are also expected to cycle faster than ever. Many customers, especially Tier One and Two auto suppliers, need both reliability and the ability to get a broken tool up and running in minutes and hours, not days or weeks. Offshore moldmakers, many of whom can now build a good product, simply can’t deliver that kind of customer service. And their cost advantage is diminishing, too. Another development is in new highlyautomated multi-axis machining centres which, combined with inserts and cutting tools designed for incredible stock removal rates, have reduced the labor cost advantage of overseas operations significantly. And with machining often forming the majority of the cost of a mold, it’s good news for both moldmaker and customer. Even texturing, formerly something of a black art, has gone high-tech, with surfacing options like lasers making the task faster, cheaper, and more consistent. If you’re a modern shop with modern equipment, you can survive and thrive in this economy and anything we’re likely to experience in the foreseeable future Some of these issues, and a lot more besides, are examined inside. We hope you find this, the second joint supplement from our two magazines, worthwhile reading. Jim Anderton, editor Canadian Metalworking Mark Stephen, editor Canadian Plastics

4 Market Outlook: The road ahead

We asked some moldmaking industry insiders for their opinions on the terrain going forward.

9 Cutting Tools: The kindest cuts

From roughing to finishing, here’s a look at the latest technologies for fast metal removal.

14 Shop Profile: Reko International Group

With a major relocation behind them, this Windsor-based company is well positioned for the business rebound.

16 Shop Profile: Top Grade Molds

This Toronto-area shop decided to get out of the automotive sector and focus on industrial and consumer goods packaging.

18 Mold Steel: P20 or not P20?

Mold steel isn’t the only choice for successful injection mold materials, but it’s still a stable foundation for a good mold.

23 CNC Machining: Milling about

Moldmaking with multi-axis milling machines: changing tech for a conservative sector.

28 Moldmaking Components: What’s new, now We’ve got some of the latest technologies inside.

A supplement to Canadian Metalworking and Canadian Plastics

Canadian Plastics

Cover photo credit: Reko International Group

April 2013

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market outlook The Road Ahead

By Mark Stephen

After an extremely bumpy ride, Canada’s mold, tool and die sector has finally gotten past the Great Recession. That’s the good news. The bad news is, nobody really knows what the terrain ahead will be like. Here’s a look at some of the speed bumps, potholes, and clear stretches that might affect your ride going forward. Remember that famous line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”? With apologies to its author Charles Dickens, for most moldmakers the past few years were just been the worst of times, period. But that was then: the automotive sector in a tailspin followed by the worst recession since Warren Buffett was in nursery school. Cut to today, and everything heard about what a good year 2012 was for mold manufacturers — especially those that service the recovering automakers — seems to be doubly true. “The industry in Canada is definitely healthier than two years ago,” said David Palmer, president and CEO of the Windsor, Ont.-based Canadian Association of Mold Makers (CAMM). “Our industry is driven predominantly by the automotive OEMs, and in 2008-2009 the automotive OEMs were starting to reevaluate how they were going to market, and what kind of platforms they were going to use. We’ve seen rejuvenation, and although the economy hasn’t given us the mandate that it’s all good, we’re seeing good growth again that relates to new OEM platforms and vehicles.” Down South, meanwhile, over 89 per cent of respondents to a recent American Mold Builders Association survey reported business conditions as being either good or excellent, with not a single shop — zilch — describing business as bad (See bottom of pgs. 6-7 for more).

AUTOMOTIVE IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

It’s hard to overstate the importance of the automotive sector for Canada’s moldmakers — particularly in On-

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tario, which is home to 90 per cent of the country’s mold, tool, and die shops. According to Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation, the auto sector currently accounts for about 60 per cent of sales within the mold, tool and die industry. Call it the Ground Zero of Canada’s automotive sector. And as at the other Ground Zero, the rebuilding is going strong. Canadians and Americans are flocking to dealerships across North America at levels not seen since the global economic meltdown gutted the industry in 2008. Led by strong demand in resource-rich Alberta, Canadian auto sales will rise to 1.69 million units this year; just short of a Canadian record set in 2002 but up from last year’s levels, which were six per cent above 2011. Small wonder, then, that a lot of Canadian mold shops are continuing to be very busy, if not quite as swamped with work as many reported this time last year. “Earlier in the year, some of the bigger shops in the Windsor, Ont., area were so busy they had teams of people on the road looking for other moldmakers to whom they could subcontract work,” said Tom Meisels, president of Toronto-based FGL Precision Works. “The workload has dried up somewhat since then and become more manageable, but the shops are still busy.” All in all, it’s been a remarkable renaissance. “Automotive OEMs are showing record sales, changing their platforms and putting a lot of new vehicles on the road, which is great not only for Tier One and Tier Two businesses but for those of us on the moldmaking side of

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market outlook things,” Palmer said. “Once again, there’s now a huge demand for new tooling.” Automotive manufacturing renaissance or not, some long-standing problems still linger. “Payment terms from the Big Three automakers have not drastically improved; it can still take one to two years before we see our money,” said David Palmer. “The OEMs have stringent requirements for their production part approval processes, and they continue to use them to their own advantages.”

WIND POWER OVERBLOWN?

It wasn’t that long ago that a lot of shops in the industry were looking to transition away from auto parts. CAMM, for one, encouraged its members to seek out new toolmaking opportunities for sectors like aerospace and wind turbines. So how’s that working out? “There’s business available in the wind turbine sector, but the manufacturing that we can contribute is not at the same high level as in automotive,” David Palmer said. “We’ve seen some successes but also some failures in some of the new companies that we were relying on. There’s some demand for it at present, but I think we’re approaching the saturation point until the infrastructure is more firmly in place.” One Toronto-area shop that is travelling down the aerospace road, meanwhile, is FGL Precision Works. “For us, it seemed like a good way to utilize machine downtime,” Tom Meisels said. “Currently we’re in an

in-between stage: there’s a lot of development and prototyping going on, but the work is sporadic. It hasn’t quite been the revolution we were hoping for.” In short, as David Palmer put it, “The reality is that neither the aerospace nor the wind turbine sectors are going to replace the volumes we get out of the automotive industry.”

equipm “Also, ficienc that ga aches o of losin just isn

SLOW BOAT BACK FROM CHINA

THE O

It’s no secret that the worries about foreign competition kept most moldmakers up at night long before the financial troubles of the Big Three. But as long as Chinese suppliers were unable to meet international quality standards or to satisfy delivery schedules for North American-based customers, Canadian die/mold shops enjoyed a measure of protection. Then came the recession, and an increased concern for the bottom line that convinced many customers to move their tooling contracts overseas, even those in high-end markets that required complex, precision tooling. A number of Canadian shops have closed their doors during the past decade as a result, but the dark cloud has had a proverbial silver lining for the survivors, forcing them to adopt new technologies and process improvements to maintain profitability. Now, as business picks up, there may be signs of a substantial amount of reshoring underway. “North American mold shops are getting back some of the business lost to China, in large part because we have the high-speed

MADE IN AMERICA: The view from south of the border HOW ARE CURRENT BUSINESS CONDITIONS?

COMPARE YOUR COMPANY’S CURRENT LEVEL OF BUSINESS WITH THAT OF 3 MONTHS AGO

Down

Same

Good 65% 50

Excellent 17%

Fair 17%

Bad 0%

Poor 1%

10 0

20% 57% 23%

32% 48% 20%

36% 35% 29%

14% 70% 16%

31% 64% 5%

Quoting

Shipments

Backlog

Profits

Employment

* The Winter/Spring 2013 survey results reflect a 38% response rate from American Mold Builders Association members.

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equipment to make us competitive again,” Palmer said. “Also, we’re dropping our prices because of these better efficiencies and better machining capabilities. If we can close that gap, a lot of customers would rather avoid the headaches of doing business in China, which includes the big risk of losing control of proprietary information. In short, China just isn’t as attractive as it was two or three years ago.”

THE OLD YOUTH PROBLEM

Another commonly-cited business problem shows no signs of abating, however — if anything, it seems to be getting worse, and fast: the shortage of skilled personnel. The root of the problem is easy to identify: fewer qualified young Canadians are opting to become skilled craftsmen, as the emphasis placed on entering college continues to increase. And as shops that are suddenly busy again scramble to find qualified workers, and as older moldmakers retire from the workforce, the issue has suddenly become acute. “Finding good workers has always been an issue, but it’s even more problematic now that the recession is over,” said Tom Meisels. “Ideally, the solution is to market ourselves to kids when they’re at the high school level but, unfortunately, Canadian colleges have shut down their plastics and mold, tool and die trade programs, so it’s becoming very hard to reach them.” There are still college-level apprenticeship programs out there — Conestoga College, in Kitchener, Ont., offers a two-year tool and die maker apprenticeship course, for example — but they’re not producing enough graduates to plug the manpower leak. What else can the industry do to

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market outlook recruit fresh faces? “One CAMM board member is a director at St. Clair College; he’s pushing for newer programs, and talking about boosting our presence in high schools,” said David Palmer. “We want to be able to make students aware of opportunities, and to let them know that today’s mold shops aren’t the tool shops that their fathers might have talked about; they’re clean, high-tech, climate-controlled, and everything is computer-generated. The problem is, companies are very aware now of their labor costs, and when things slow down they’re not afraid to lay workers off. This lack of job security is playing a big role in scaring people away from our industry, and countering it is probably our biggest ongoing challenge right now.”

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

So, peering out through our windshield at the road ahead, what do we see?

The consensus seems to be that the mold, tool and die industry will indeed enjoy a period of strong business but that, for most, the good times might not last. “The automotive OEMs are changing over their platforms, which is good for us in the short term,” David Palmer said. “After that, though, they’re not going to want to change over their platforms again for several years at the least. This is a slowdown we see happening on the other side of 2015.” And it’s a projected slowdown that speaks volumes about the new reality that moldmakers have to face. “Years ago, if you’re business slowed down, you could give your workers a rest because you knew new orders would come in soon; now there’s too much uncertainty,” said Tom Meisels. “In today’s world, if we get swamped with work for a few weeks, we know we have to face the problem of finding work after that. It’s not a pleasant reality, but I believe it’s the new normal.” MT&D

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cutting tools The Kindest Cut:

Cutting Tools for Mold Applications From roughing to finishing, new technologies speed metal removal

By Nate Hendley

mance and insert seating stability are assured thanks to a new robust insert screw design which secures the insert in the pocket. Ingersoll also offers the Form-Master R roughing technology for dies and molds. Double-sided inserts come in two different styles: round and serrated. Both inserts offer free-cutting geometry and an anti-rotation clamping system, but the serrated style boosts the application range of the tools to include extended-reach operations and high temperature alloys. The serrations also result in enhanced stability on the cut and better chip management. Through-the-tool coolant is standard on both end mills and face mills. Fiorenza offers some wisdom to anyHi-QuadF high feed mills from Ingersoll. one using advanced cutting tools for mold machining purposes. “My advice always is fairly consistent. Tool path is everything. Programming technique is everything. The products that we, along with other manufacturers produce, are very good. We take pride in our designs. But, they are only as good as the tool path that’s applied to them. Form-MasterR roughing technol- Having been a programmer, I can say ogy for dies and molds from that with confidence,” he notes. Ingersoll. www.ingersoll-imc.com

Precision, flexibility and boosted productivity are the buzz words among industry experts when it comes to cutting tools for mold applications. Here’s a look at what’s new and/or noteworthy in cutting tools for mold machining:

Ingersoll

2H5

Ingersoll, based in Rockford, Illinois, has several new cutting tool offerings that can be used in moldmaking. Ingersoll’s new Pro-Trio Effective Ball Nose rougher has a three-effective flute ball nose configuration, designed to increase productivity and incorporate double-sided insert technology for more indexes. These roughers excel at copy, channel and deep pocket machining. A robust dovetail clamping system for the ball nose inserts results in additional insert stability. Side cutting insert stations mean greater application flexibility when doing side-milling operations. Ingersoll has also recently introduced the Hi-Quad F high-feed milling family. This versatile cutting line comes with either a 13 mm or 19 mm IC quad-style insert. There are four indexes per insert and a total of eight different insert geometry types. The 13 mm IC inserts boast a maximum depth of cut of .088 inches while the 19 IC inserts have a .145 inch maximum depth of cut. “It’s a very, very flexible line. What makes it so flexible [is the fact] there’s up to eight different insert styles. Which is really cool, actually ... the additional advantage of the product is extreme depth of cut for high feed,” says William Fiorenza, die mold line product manager at Ingersoll. The positive axial orientation creates the highshear, free-cutting nature of the Hi-Quad F high-feed cutter line. Chip thinning is leveraged to a factor of five times when figuring out feed rates. Cutter perfor-

Tungaloy

In January, the Tungaloy Corporation of Japan launched a new button insert milling cutter called FixRMill for fiveaxis machining. The cutter was specifically designed for profile milling components with complex shapes in the electronics, general machining and die and mold sectors. Button inserts are known to rotate in the cutter body because of the feed force and thrust forces experienced during heavy machining. The FixRMill boasts a unique anti-rotation system that guarantees the location and continued positioning. The FixRMill design also allows end users to index the insert up to six times. When it

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Mo On Mo

cutting tools comes to complicated five-axis components that utilize higher depth of cut, the inserts can be indexed a minimum of three times. The FixRMill has an optional shank type cutter body and the option of two, three or four teeth per cutter with an overall length of 5.9 inches (150 mm). The shank type toolholders also provide through tool coolant capability to boost tool life and improve chip clearance during high production applications. Last summer, Tungaloy launched a new face milling line for super high feed machining steels, cast irons and heat resistant alloys. The DoFeedQuad cutter line has double-sided inserts that offer eight cutting edges per insert. The line can be used for general machining applications and die and mold work. The cutter line The DoFeedQuad cutter line from will boost produc- Tungaloy. tivity and lower costs for end-users, says Tungaloy. The DoFeedQuad has a new dovetail structure that increases clamping strength by over 50 percent. The enhanced design increases reliability and edge strength while decreasing vibration and providing an optimal surface finish, even when doing high-feed machining. The DoFeedQuad’s rigid clamping design features only a single clamping screw. This design feature decreases cutter downtime, beefs up efficiency and enhances chipping resistance. DoFeedQuad inserts come with identification numbers in each corner to clearly mark each of four cutting edges. Honed inserts are available in Tungaloy’s AH725, AH130, AH120 and T3130 grades for stainless steel, cast iron and superalloy machining. Tungaloy’s proprietary PremiumTec technology further enhances insert life. The insert’s design creates low cutting forces when high feed cutting, thanks to the large rake angle and optimal land width. Boasting an insert 6 mm thick and a tough cutting edge, the rigid and robust DoFeedQuad offers high fracture resistance and exceptional chip flow. Put together, these elements triple tool life, reduce machine tool load and result in productivity gains of 75 percent and beyond. The DoFeedQuad is available with three to seven in-

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sert pockets that allow bore type cutters to machine 50 to 125 mm diameters. www.tungaloy.co.jp/us

Walter USA

In May 2012, Walter USA, the Waukesha, Wisconsinbased branch of a German parent firm, introduced the Prototyp Protomax Ultra ball-nose end mill. These solid carbide HPC ball-nose end mills were made specifically for machining hardened materials. The Prototyp Protomax end mills come in two different diameter ranges: a standard version from 3 – 12 mm and a mini version from 0.1 – 2.5 mm. Both mills boast highly heat-resistant gold TiAlSiN (TAS) coating. They can handle hardened materials up to 70 HRC in die and moldmaking among other applications. The ball-nose end mills have a helix angle of 30 degrees and two reinforced cutting edges. The mills are good for semi-roughing and roughing as well as semifinishing and fine finishing. They are suitable for machining 3-D freeform surfaces, with Z constant and in five-axis simultaneous milling operations. According to Walter, the ball-nose end mills will reduce production costs due to less component reworking, provide reliable mold and die manufacturing even in operations that are unmanned, provide a high level of cutting efficiency during roughing and are very stable as well. Walter USA’s new F5041 and F5141 Walter USA’s Prototyp Protomax Ultra ball-nose end mill and new shoulder mills in the F5041 shoulder mill. Blaxx line “could be easily applied in the die and mold industry” as well, states Patrick Nehls, product manager at Walter USA. Blaxx shoulder mills feature Walter’s Tiger-tec Silver high performance aluminum oxide coating, and feature four, precisely 90 degree cutting edges and tangential indexable inserts with positive cutting characteristics. www.walter-tools.com/us

Sandvik Coromant

Swedish tool giant Sandvik Coromant has several new cutting tools that can be used for die and mold machining. The CoroMill 419, for example, is a recently released

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cutting tools The CoroMill Plura line of solid end mills can also be used for mold work. The GC1610 grade was specifically developed by the company for machining dies and molds in pre-hardened steel. These mills have optimized grades for all materials and conditions, an unequal helix concept for maximum stability, variable flute depth design for excellent core stiffness and chip space, etc. The CoroMill Plura solid end mill program includes tool shapes for operations, in diameters ranging from 0.1 to 25 mm (0.004–0.984 inches). CoroMill Plura small ball nose end mills are ideal for medium to hard steels, between 35– 63 HRC. “Small diameters down to 0.1 mm (0.004 inch) make them suitable for all small die and mold manufacturing, where high precision is important,” reads Sandvik Coromant literature. The CoroMill 316 exchangeable-head milling system is also suitable for mold machining. The exchangeable

five-edge, high-feed milling cutter that can handle roughing and semi-finishing operations. Benefits include high productivity in applications that require light cutting action, long tool life, strong and robust inserts for reliable machining and Sandvik Coromant’s Coromill low power consump- 419 high-feed milling cutter tion. The CoroMill 419 boasts five cutting edges per insert, a wide variety of grades and geometries, radius inserts and inserts with parallel land, etc. Sandvik Coromant also promises that “the high feed and light-cutting action enable a soft sound, creating a more operator-friendly environment.”

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cutting tools head milling system offers enhanced flexibility, higher productivity and lower tool and inventory costs. The system allows operators to switch quickly and accurately between operations such as cutter type, radius variation, teeth frequency, geometry and grade. Outside of mills, Sandvik Coromant also offers the CoroChuck 980, a high-precision hydraulic chuck with high-pull out security and precision. Benefits include higher metal removal rates, quick tool change and setup, enhanced surface finish, boosted tool life and closer hole tolerance. www.sandvik.coromant.com/en-us/

Komet

“Many machines in the mold and die industry get a real beating ... and you try to do some accurate work with the same machine, and it’s almost impossible to get tools like reamers to be accurate,” states David Toomey, president of Komet of Canada, which is based in Newmarket, On-

tario with an Austrian parent company. To ameliorate the kind of situation described above, Toomey recommends the Reamax TS reamer used in conjunction with the new DAH Zero adjustable holder. The new adjustable holders allow concentricity problems from the machine or spindle to The DAH Zero be corrected easily. Four radialadjustable ly fitted screws allow for microholder with precision adjustment of concenthe Reamax TS reamer tricity. The modular Reamax from Komet TS tooling system, meanwhile, is a range of reaming heads offering premium system modularity and precision. The holders have adjustable concentricity to an accuracy of less than 3 μm. www.komet.com

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shop profile REKO INTERNATIONAL GROUP

Moving with the times By Mark Stephen

Probably there are some experiences in life less enjoyable than moving — being waterboarded comes to mind — but not many. But if you approach it with the right outlook, it’s an opportunity to strip away what you don’t need and rebuild on a new foundation. In 2011, Diane Reko, CEO of Windsor, Ont.based moldmaker and automation equipment supplier Reko International Group, faced some difficult decisions with the future of the company her father Steve founded in 1976 possibly hanging in the balance. “We were struggling financially, and had too much capacity in people, buildings, and equipment,” Reko explained. Sounds like the ordinary problems of a million other mold shops, right? But Reko International’s solution was anything but ordinary. “We made a conscious, and very difficult, decision to relocate and restructure,” she said.

MISSION POSSIBLE

Known by the tongue-incheek nickname “Project Retool”, the three month process — carried out over the summer of 2011 — saw the company close

seven locations; consolidate its operations into two Windsor plants; cut its footprint in half; and reduce staffing levels to 160 from about 225, including shedding a layer of management. By any measure, it was a serious undertaking, and made while the clock was ticking. “We had a 90-day timeline to move a lot of employees and an enormous amount of equipment,” said Dave Romanello, the company’s sales manager. “People who were watching said we’d never do it, but our in-house expertise in assembling automation helped make the move go smoothly.” Not that it was easy on any level. “There were some tears shed on the day when we had to tell some people they wouldn’t be coming with us to our new location,” Reko said. “As hard as it was to say goodbye to people because of a situation that wasn’t of their doing, it was essential if we were going to survive and continue to provide employment for our remaining workers.” And like a good surgical procedure, it worked. The restructuring enabled Reko International to cut year-over-year labor costs by $4.4 million and fixed costs by $4.6 million while reducing debt service costs to $2.5 million. Most recently, Reko International, which went public in 1994, announced gross profits of $1.7 million for the three months ended October 31, 2012,

Top, middle, and bottom left: Working hard on the shop floor at Reko International. Photo Credits: Reko International Group

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shop profile up from $1.2 million in the prior year. The company currently operates from two buildings that occupy 153,000-squarefeet, and is back up to about 200 workers, including some who were laid off in 2011. In addition to manufacturing molds and automation equipment mainly for the auto industry through a division called Reko Manufacturing Group, the company also operates Concorde Precision Machining, a division that does precision machining of large scale casting and assemblies. And as the above numbers indicate, business is booming. “We were in a strong position technically going into the recession and we’re in a strong position now after the move,” Romanello said. “The changes have allowed us to focus on core areas, including moldmaking, tooling and automation for automotive clients and machining for capital equipment, mining, oil, gas and military applications.”

FOREIGN FRIENDLY

Reko International was ahead of the curve in adapting to Asian competition years ago, and it’s an approach that continued to pay off during the hard times. “We were one of the first shops to get involved with importing Chinese tooling and supporting it here in Canada, and it still continues to be part of our business,” Reko said. “We have a joint venture called Reko Global Services in Alabama, the primary function of which is to arrange for the sourcing of tooling in China. As a result, we’re able to offer blended programs for customers, where some of the tools are built here in our facility and some built in China where it makes sense. These kinds of ventures, if not with China then with other low-cost countries, are the future shape of the industry.” With the tough decisions behind them for the time being, Reko International is able to reap the benefits of a business rebound without having to wonder about the road not taken — because they took it. And while it only moved them across the city of Windsor, it also helped them

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shop profile Top Grade Molds: A study in transitions By Mark Stephen Transitioning out of a seemingly-profitable manufacturing niche might not fit into the master plans of most companies — but every once in a while, it turns out to be the right move. For Mississauga, Ont.-based moldmaker Top Grade Molds Ltd., the decision to quit making molds for the automotive sector came in the mid-1990s — long before the Big Three began their financial meltdowns. Top Grade’s reason? “We came to the realization that, while we were into everything, we were specializing in nothing, which wasn’t a good business plan for going forward,” said Vince Ciccone, president of the Toronto-based company. “We started to focus on industrial packaging and consumer goods packaging, which were already large parts of our business. We didn’t renounce our obligations to our automotive customers, we simply stopped quoting for new business.” The company also wound down its involvements with structural foam and large blow molds. Cut to today, and it’s the reason Top Grade designs and produces high-quality plastic injection molds for some of the world’s leading industrial and thin wall packaging manufacturers, and has shipped product to 30 countries around the world. Founded in 1964 by Joe Slobodnik, the company operates from a 65,000-square-foot facility and employs approximately 120 workers. According to Ciccone, Top Grade’s two biggest strengths are its engineering chops and its determination to develop its own mold design technologies. “Our innovations include a modular mold change system for quick changeovers of stack molds, an interchangeable spout system to change out spout or cavity inserts without bolts or witness blemishes, our Dyna-Loc locking system for reductions in wall section and cycle times, and our X-Tri-Seal technology that provides three seals for hot runner nozzle technology,” Ciccone said. “Our mold designs give consideration to balanced cooling, balanced hot runners, and ease of maintenance and longevity. Our catalogue of standardized components is stocked for same-day delivery. The goal is to help our customers to achieve shorter cycles, less downtime, and consistent part quality.”

(Above) Plastic paint cans manufactured by Top Grade. Photo Credit: Top Grade Molds Ltd.

(Left) Top Grade president Vince Ciccone.

With a list of technical innovations to its credit that reads almost as long as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, you better believe Top Grade has more filed than a few patents over the years. “We have three patents in Canada and 39 internationally,” Ciccone said. “They’re the result of our determination never to copy anything; we’re always trying to push ahead with new designs and technologies of our own.” It’s a strategy made more practical by their embrace of Canada’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program. “We’ve been able to develop so much of our own proprietary technologies in large part because SR&ED funding provided a cushion to our research and development expenses,” Ciccone said. Despite going its own way as much as possible, the shop doesn’t exist in a bubble; just like everyone else, they were hurt by the Great Recession. But that was then. “Business has been steady since 2010,” Ciccone said. “Our only complaint today is that, since we export almost 95 per cent of our product, the strong Canadian dollar is hurting. That said, I wouldn’t want it return below parity again, because having to compete with the U.S. on par is forcing us to become a better, more efficient moldmaker and all-around service provider on a worldwide basis.” So it turns out that Top Grade’s transition isn’t over yet. MT&D

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E-Z setup

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mold steel P20 or not P20? The venerable mold steel isn’t the only choice for successful injection mold materials...but it’s a stable, solid foundation for a good mold. By Jim Anderton Ask any mold maker most anywhere what’s the most commonly used mold steel and he or she will probably say, “P20” without hesitation. P20 is almost synonymous with injection mold steels, and with good reason. What is P20? The popular material is compositionally very similar to the aerospace 41XX “chromoly” steel. Carbon content is typically a full 0.40 percent, so it’s not surprising that P20 is an oil-hardening steel, quenching after a thorough soak at 830C. P20 is also versatile and easy to work with: it anneals at 780C and can be tempered at very low temperatures with still air cooling. It’s possible, for example, to temper a moderate section to 51HRc with temperatures as low as 100C, and importantly, P20 can be stress-relived just before final machining at a reasonable 480C with still air cooling. All of these temperatures and cooling conditions are achievable from widely available sources with excellent control, allowing heavy, high-speed roughing of cavities, for example, with the ability to stress-relive before the final, gentler finish cuts. While 50-plus HRc hardness is available from the base steel, P20 can be case hardened to the high 50’s HRc and readily nitrided to 60HRc if hardness plus corrosion resistance is needed. Case depths of up to half a millimeter are possible. Chromium plating is another option, although a modest tempering soak is recommended to prevent hydrogen embrittlement. There are two major advantages to using P20 from a heat-treating perspective. The first is that heat treaters are familiar with the material and can draw on lots of experience in recommending a profile to suit a specific job. The other is that P20 can be com-

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monly machined in the pre-hardened and tempered condition, then readily treated post-machining if necessary. The use of pre-hardened grades, however, adds pressure on the mold maker. Deep cavities require thick section blocks, which if poorly heat-treated, will have a pronounced “case and core” effect. If the machining process strips off the outer layer, residual stresses will distort the block, requiring one or more stress relieving treatments. Through hardness can be

As molds get bigger and cavities deeper, material consistency and through hardness are more important than ever.

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mold steel improved with specialty P20 grades….ask your tool steel supplier and/or heat treater for recommendations. Like most tool steel applications, material selection is about tradeoffs between desired properties. Steels with a high sulfur content for example, are well known for excellent machinability, but polish poorly. “Improved” P20 with significant nickel content helps improve homogeneity while retaining good polishability. Good polishability is a hallmark of P20 steels, but for surfaces requiring very close-tolerance mirror finishes, modified P20 chemistries are available for specialized jobs such as lens molds. Textured finishes also require consistent hardness across the surface to avoid issues with texture depth, haze and gloss. Acid etched finishes are especially susceptible to composition issues, as the acid eats preferentially at metal grain boundaries…inhomoge-

Good polishability is a hallmark of P20 steels, but for surfaces requiring very close-tolerance mirror finishes, modified P20 chemistries are available for specialized jobs. neous steels can pit noticeably when etched. Alloying elements are one way to improve consistency, but the way the block was cast is also crucial. Advanced production techniques like vacuum remelting and powder

WHAT CLASS MOLD? The SPI’s standard “100 series” mold classification system is a convenient way for a customer to specify the basic standards required for an injection mold. From a material standpoint, the

key to metal selection depends most simply on the number of parts the mold is expected to produce. Here’s a simple summary of the materials aspect:

MOLD GRADE CYCLES 105 Under 500

STEEL RECOMMENDATION Prototype mold…no restriction on material: mild steel / non-metals OK.

104

Under 100,000

Base, cavities mild steel/aluminum for non-abrasive resins.

103

Under 500,000

102

Under 1 million

101

Over 1 million

Base, min hardness 165BHN, cavities / cores min hardness 280BHN. Base min hardness 280BHN, cavies / cores hardened to 48Rc. Plating as required. As 102, with highest quality, corrosion resistant materials, 4HRc hardness difference in metal sliding parts.

A TYPICAL P20 COMPOSITION The message is clear: for higher volumes, harder wearing, more Carbon 0.40 percent expensive steels are necessary including plating, hardening or surface treatments as necessary to cope with long runs and corManganese 1.00 percent rosive resins. The SPI mold standards cover more than material Molybdenum 0.35 percent issues… for a downloadable white paper describing the stanSilicon 0.40 percent dards in detail, visit the Craftech Corp. website at: http://www. 1.20 percent craftechcorp.com/injection-moldmaking/spi-mold-standards.com Chromium

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mold steel metallurgy can make cleaner, more consistent steel, but naturally at a higher cost. For all but short run, low cost molds however, cheap steel isn’t a sensible place to control costs. Machining, for example can be the largest component of the mold cost, and inconsistent hardness can wear tools and slow both feeds and speeds. Mold repair can also be a consideration. The heat affected zone of almost all P20 and associated grades are available in repaired tools will be signifilarge slabs, simplifying cantly harder than the base large part moldmaking. metal…with implications for the surface texture. Pre and post-heating during the welding process is essential to good way to eliminate surprises. In the end, P20 remains a popular choice for injecreduce the hardness mismatch and also to stop the cracking that frequently occurs with hurried on-the-fly re- tion mold making because of it’s all around balance of pairs. Mold welding is a specialty craft that should only properties, ready availability, reasonable cost and perbe done by experts familiar with mold and tool steels. haps most importantly, the comfort factor that comes

What specification?

With multiple chemistries from many suppliers, it’s difficult to define “P20” in today’s environment. Improved grades with fine control of composition plus extra elements like nickel can be ordered for specific applications. The size of the mold, needed hardness, desired surface finish, presence of abrasive resin fillers or corrosive gas formation from PVC for example, all require careful selection of the steel grade. Some non-P20 grades will work well in mold applications, but bring unique properties that may or may not be useful. A vanadium steel, for example, may have excellent red hardness, not important in an injection mold, but may also hold a good polish and resist wear in a tough application. There is no single “best” mold steel and as a result, P20 formulations have evolved into a family that varies by supplier and even by geographical region. A Chinese mold built with “P20” may have a significantly different steel composition than a Japanese, European or Canadian mold. Dealing with a trusted vendor with strong traceability and quality assurance systems in-house is a

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Although typical P20 steels contain considerable chromium and some improved grades also feature nickel, neither are true stainless steels and often require plating or surface modification to resist corrosion. with years of shop floor experience. With ever larger molds representing greater risk with each project, few tool owners will take a chance on an unproven material, unless the performance benefits are substantial, or there’s no other choice for the application. P20 will be around for a long time to come. MT&D

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CNC machining Milling About:

Moldmaking with Multi-Axis Milling Machines

Changing tech for a conservative sector By Nate Hendley tinuous rotation) on the C-axis. Are die and mold workers set in their ways? The machine is standard equipped with a 15,000Jim Endsley, machining centre product specialist at Okuma America Corporation, based in Charlotte, RPM HSK-A63 spindle with 120Nm (42Nm continuous) of torque for flexible, high-speed machining of a North Carolina, suggests this might be the case. Die and mold workers can be a “stodgy group. They variety of materials, including steel, aluminum and tidon’t like change ... I say that from personal experience. tanium. The D300 utilizes direct-drive motor technolThey are slow to grasp some of these things,” says Ends- ogy in the C-axis rotary table and A-axis trunnion for ley, who served a four-year apprenticeship as a toolmak- positioning accuracy and repeatability. www.makino.com er in his younger days. “On the other hand, die mold processes [lead] the industry. A lot of the Hurco things you prove out with die mold Hurco of Indianapolis, Indiana, is applications eventually make their on a roll. way into automotive mass produc“Hurco has introduced seven new tion. It’s my belief that if you develop 5-axis machining centers in the last things for die mold, they will migrate five years, with the newest one beinto mass production. So that teching the VMX42SRTi. The swivelnology can be applied to other areas head design of the Hurco 5-axis as well,” he adds. VMX42SRTi features a flush rotary With this in mind, here’s a look table that provides an additional 3.5 at what’s new and/or noteworthy in inches of clearance in the Z-axis to The D300 five-axis vertical mold-making mills: support taller parts. Additionally, machining centre from Makino. the rotary table has unlimited angular movement, which reduces cycle times because the Makino Last June, Makino of Japan unveiled the D300 5-axis table isn’t forced to unwind multiple times during the vertical machining center, designed specifically for high- machining cycle, as tables that are limited to +/- 360 end part production in aerospace, medical manufactur- degrees are forced to do. Basic specifications of VMX42SRTi include X/Y/Z travels of ing and die mold applications. 42/24/24 inches, a 12K integral The D300 comes with a workspindle, a 40-station swing-arm autable area diameter of 300 mm tomatic tool changer, X/Y/Z rapids and can handle workpieces up to of 1,378/1,378/1,181 inches per 450 mm by 270 mm and weighminute, and the integrated Hurco ing 120 kilograms. The X, Y and control that includes both conZ-axis travels come in at 300 mm, versational and NC programming 500 mm and 350 mm respectively. modes,” says Phil Fassnacht, marFeed rates can reach 60,000 mm/ keting director for Hurco. minute. Rotary table axes feature Hurco has developed UltiMorotational motion of 240 degrees tion technology for 3 and 5-axis (+/- 120 degrees) on the A-axis Hurco’s new VMX42SRTi machining mills. and a complete 360-degree (con- centre.

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CNC machining “We have inverted the axis. UltiMotion is “Hurco’s patTraditionally, Y goes back and ented motion control system that forth in front of you on a vertical simultaneously reduces cycle time machining center. What we did up to 30 percent, even more in was make the X go back and forth some cases, and improves surface in front of the machine. What this finish quality. UltiMotion uses allows us to do is have an operator software to control the motion on one side of the machine, like system instead of conventional a horizontal machining center and hardware, which means there is a pallet changer on the opposite less chatter, less vibration, less side of the machine,” he explains. machine jerk, resulting in a betwww.okuma.com/americas ter surface finish. The efficiency The MU6300 V vertical spindle maof the software also provides rapid chine from Okuma. cornering capabilities and optimized look-ahead, where GF AgieCharmilles the software evaluates each section of the motion pro- GF AgieCharmilles, the Lincolnshire, Illinois branch file and shifts the look-ahead to the maximum number of a Swiss-based parent company, has unveiled several of blocks. While UltiMotion is valuable to all shops, new, multi-axis mills capable of die mold work. mold shops in particular appreciate the significant imThe high-performance MIKRON HPM 450U provement in surface finish quality,” says Fassnacht. 5-axis milling machine was displayed at the Expo As for the future, Fassnacht says, “We will be intro- Bancomer Sanfe Fe in Mexico City in March, 2013. ducing a new 3.2 meter 5-axis large machining center. It features a new torque rotary/tilt table and efficient Customers have been pleased with our 3-axis, double spindle options for a variety of machining applications column, 3.2 meter, DCX32 and we have had requests including moldmaking. to make a 5-axis model in the large machine size.” The MIKRON HPM 450U boasts a sturdy, comwww.hurco.com pact design with a large work envelope. Maximum X-Y traverse paths measure 600 mm (23.62 inches) and 437 mm (17.2 inches) respectively, with a Z-axis Okuma Okuma of Japan unveiled the new MU-10000H that provides a 450 mm (17.72 inch) clearance be5-axis, high-speed, horizontal machining centre at tween table surface and the nose of the spindle. The 450U also comes with an impressive rotary table speed IMTS 2012 in Chicago. This CNC machine has a large trunnion table with of 140 RPM and tilting range of -120/+45 degrees. The a one-meter square pallet, workpiece weight capacity machine can handle tools with a maximum diameter of three inches (80 mm). of 5,500 pounds, workpiece size caThe machine’s high-end spindle pacity of 59.05 inches diameter by also comes in a 12,000 RPM ver44.29 inches high, and 1,416 maxision that features an ISO 40 tamum foot-pounds of torque (1,920 per for conventional tooling or a Nm) available from 50 RPM. 20,000 RPM version with an HSKThe MU-10000H’s impressive A63 taper for machining a broad workpiece size capacity is explained range of materials. The 450U has by the fact that the industry is “seean internal tool changer integrated ing a trend of parts getting bigger into the base of the machine, with [which leads to] larger die molds,” a storage capacity of nearly 60 explains Endsley. tools. This internal tool changer Okuma has also recently introis complemented by an external duced the MU6300—“a vertical circular magazine that boosts total spindle machine that’s a completely The MIKRON HPM 450U fivecapacity to 220 tools. new design. We’ve sold a couple, but axis milling machine from GF GF AgieCharmilles also renot in the U.S.” says Endsley. AgieCharmilles.

ZER NO VIR IN TH MA

You’ deliv And poss enab step even All in make and

Don’ die/m MAKI

WH 24

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ZERO STOCK CUTTING. NO HAND FINISHING. VIRTUALLY NO SPOTTING. IN DIE/MOLD, IT’S THE DETAILS THAT MATTER MOST.

You’ll do anything you can to reduce delivery times and operating costs. And Makino is doing everything possible to help. Makino technologies enable you to bypass time-consuming steps to deliver mirror-like finishes on even the most complex geometries. All in record time. Because when you make what matters, making it better— and faster—is what matters most. Don’t wait. Get the whole Makino die/mold story right now: MAKINO.COM/DIEMOLD

WHEN YOU MAKE WHAT MATTERS

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CNC machining Cut line was released by Wood cently released the MIKRON Dale, Illinois-based MC Machinery HEM 800 3-axis VMC, which is Systems (a subsidiary of Mitsubishi designed for high-precision proCorporation of Japan). duction in aerospace and die and The MCV Series boasts a two mold. The worktable measures spindle/tooling system: the CAT41.34 inches by 22.05 inches and 40 tooling system has an 8,000 can accommodate a maximum RPM motor while the CAT-50 load of 1,760 lbs. X- and Y-axis tooling system uses a 6,000 RPM travel comes in at 33.46 inches motor. The machine features X, and 20.87 inches, respectively, Y and Z travels of 24 inches, 16.1 while the Z axis provides 23.62 inches and 21.3 inches. Maximum inches of clearance between table tool weight is 15.4 pounds, while surface and spindle nose. the cutting feed rate is 0.04 – 394 The HEM 800 boasts a 12.75MCV Series general purpose machininches/minute. The machine also hp, 14,000-rpm, CAT 40 spindle ing center from MC Machinery. has coolant-thru-spindle preparathat can produce 31 foot-pounds of torque and makes high-powered milling and drilling tion and an M70 Mitsubishi controller. CV Series operations in the Z axis possible. The spindle motor mills can also be fitted with a ZF Gearbox, which provides uninterrupted production with high torque gives the machine the capacity to quadruple the torque of a standard motor. at low speed and high power at high speed. GF AgieCharmilles’s new, high-speed MIKRON www.mcmachinery.com HSM 200U LP milling machine made its North American debut at the February 2013 Medical Design and Haas Manufacturing West Show in Anaheim, California. “Our VM series VMCs for mold making are a very The HSM 200U LP comes in 3 and 5-axis ver- stable and shop-proven line of machines ... sions and is recommended for small, complex comWe don’t currently have any new models planned ponents. The machine weighs 3,600 kilograms for the VM line this year. However, our primary ob(7,937 pounds) with a polymer concrete base, an jective for 2013 is to continue improving the quality X-axis travel of 160 mm (6.3 inches), Y-Axis travel and reliability of all Haas products, including the VM of 160 mm (6.3 inches), Z-Axis travel of 200 mm machines,” states Scott Rathburn, of the marketing (7.87 inches), B-Axis travel of +30/-120 degrees and department for Oxnard, California-based Haas. a C-Axis travel of 0 to 360 degrees. The HSM 200U “The Haas UMC-750, while not designed specifioffers true 5-axis simultaneous high-speed machin- cally for mold work, still has applications for the mold ing and boasts linear motor technology in the main industry. The machine’s integrated dual-axis trunnion machine axes and optimized direct-drive motors can position a mold to nearly any angle for machining. for the B and C axes. All the axes This provides better access to deep are built on high rigid linear comcavities than a 3-axis machine, alpact roller guides that feature four lowing the use of shorter tools, rows of rollers per carriage. which improve surface finish and alwww.agiecharmilles.us lows higher feed rates. The ability to machine five sides of the part in one fixturing also reduces setups and MC Machinery improves accuracy. The UMC-750 The MCV Series is a general puralso offers simultaneous 5-axis mopose machining center from the tion to smoothly trace contours and new Diamond Cut milling line that blend adjoining surfaces,” he adds. can be used for fixture and mold www.haascnc.com base applications. The Diamond The UMC-750 from Haas. MT&D

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moldmaking components Sprue nozzle for zinc die-casting applications

The hotcast Sprue Nozzle ZD 50/80 and ZD 125 for zinc die-casting applications from HotSet America Corporation is designed to improve cycle time and part quality while decreasing tool costs and reducing porosity and eliminating costly sprue cones. Cycle time reductions of up to 40% are possible, with up to 30% less shot weight, and 7% more part weight due to higher microstructure density. Additionally, traditional cold plug designs can be replaced by the hotcast sprue nozzle, and the device is also intended to offer improved mold design options. Reduced post-plating scrap is also possible. The device offers continuous heating from goose neck to the mold, and can be integrated into 50 ton, 80 ton and 125 ton die-casting machines Options include compatible hotcast Sealed Heater (GMH), hotrod die-casting cartridge heaters (HHP/G), temperature control unit hotcontrol C448, the hotcast Set sprue nozzle and control unit, and the hotcast Set sprue nozzle, GMH, HHP/G, and control unit. HotSet (Swainsboro, Ga.); www.hotset-worldwide.com; 912-289-1844

Heavy-duty vertical turning lathe for high repeatability

Methods Machine Tools Inc. as introduced the new high performance FEELER FVT600 vertical turning lathe, designed for machining large, heavy, challenging parts including those used in aerospace and power generation industries. To easily automate processes for high-volume production applications, the FEELER FVT-600 is available in left-side and right-side versions, allowing automation to be strategically stationed between the lathes. To minimize thermal deformation and vibration, and increase positioning accuracy, the FVT-600 features rugged construction and precision ballscrews that are directly coupled with highly responsive AC servo motors. The new FEELER vertical turning lathe offers a high-precision and high-rigidity spindle which is sup-

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ported by two double-row cylindrical roller bearings and duplex angular thrust bearings, which enables the lathe to endure heavy cutting in both radial and axial directions, resulting in high accuracy during long cutting cycles. The FVT-600 design permits coolant to flush chips to an extra wide conveyer where the chips are immediately evacuated. The FEELER FVT-600 features a 12 position turret and offers an X-Axis travel of 12” (305 mm) and a 25.6” (650 mm) Z-Axis travel. Spindle speeds range from 50 to 2,000 RPM on a standard chuck size of 15” (381 mm) and optional chuck sizes including 18” (457.2 mm), 21” (533.4 mm) or 24” (609.6 mm), providing a high metal removal rate of 24m / min. The new FEELER lathe offers a maximum turning diameter of 23.6” (600 mm) and a maximum turning length of 25.6” (650 mm). Maximum workpiece weight is 2,205 lbs (1,000 kg). A reliable, easy-to-use FANUC 0i-TD control is standard and available in a swiveling control box for ergonomics and convenience. The FEELER FVT-600 offers a compact footprint at 134” length x 71” width (3,400 mm length x 1,800 mm width) and weighs 19,842 lbs (9,000 kg). Methods Machine Tools Inc. (Sudbury, Mass.); www.methodsmachine.com; 978-443-5388 SMS Machine Tools Ltd. (Toronto); www.smsmachine.com; 416-675-7300

Linear ball bearings give precise control

The new Z 1000 and Z 1100 ball bearings from Hasco are designed for the precise control of stripper plates. This tolerance coordination for h4 guide pillars produces a fit with virtually no play at all. The exclusive aluminium cage allows, through high abrasionresistance, their use in food and medical technology. The ball bearings feature unlimited stroke, with no movement of the cage; and circulating bearings in the guide pillar with twisted bearing tracks that prevent them from running into the guide elements. With permissible operating temperature of 180°C and an exclusive aluminium cage for food and medical technology, the bearings offer easy assembly into H7 drillholes, and five different diameters. Hasco Canada Inc. (Toronto); www.hasco.com; 416-293-5044

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moldmaking components Vision measurement and high accuracy 3D measurement in one machine

New from Mitutoyo Canada Inc., the new Quick Vision WLI vision measuring machine comes standard with an optical vision head and a white light interferometer (WLI) head. Together they enable high accuracy performance of non-contact vision plus non-contact 3D measurement of high aspect-ratio minute form (Z = Sub µm ~ 100µm) functions in a single machine, eliminating the need to move a workpiece from one type of machine to another. As a result, the Quick Vision WLI offers a significant throughput improvement for non-contact measurement of molds combining both 2D and minute form 3D features in a single workpiece. The Quick Vision WLI interferometer head splits a beam of white light in two; one beam goes towards a ref-

erence mirror and the other beam goes to the workpiece. As the reference objective is moved along the Z-axis, a white “interference ring” is observed on the focus point; analysis of this ring makes it possible to determine the 3D shape of the feature under observation. The Quick Vision WLI performs 2D/3D form evaluation using Mitutoyo FORMPAK-QV/FORMTRACEPAK-PRO software which features a refined, intuitive GUI. Results can be displayed in 2D/3D graphics for easy interpretation; a variety of editing and control tools are standard. In addition, Quick Vision WLI 2D/3D non-contact measuring machines can support output to measurement data applications such as MeasurLink, Mitutoyo’s proprietary statistical-processing and process-control program which performs statistical analysis and provides real-time display of measurement results for SPC applications. Mitutoyo Canada Inc. (Mississauga, Ont.); www.mitutoyo.com; 905-821-1261

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moldmaking components Monitoring device for important mold data

The CVe electronic mold monitoring device from Progressive Components is designed to gather a wide range of data. In addition to mold cycles completed, the CVe records cycle time over the life of the tool, cycle time over the last 25,000 cycles, percentage of activity versus downtime, downtime date ranges, and increments where mold maintenance was performed. Data can be viewed either directly off the CVe or downloaded via its mini USB port in order to drive comprehensive reporting. The CVe is intended to fit into the same pocket as Progressive’s CounterView 100/200 series, making it easy to retrofit it onto tooling that’s already in production. Progressive Components (Wauconda, Ill.); www.procomps.com; 1-800-269-6653

AD_Z1000 86x124 GB CDN_Layout 1 08.03.13 10:13 Seite 1

Linear ball bearing Z 1000 /. . . Unlimited stroke, no movement of the cage

NEW

Time-saving pre-pocketed mold bases

DME Company has enhanced its line of Edge mold bases to offer a pre-pocketed option that helps moldmaking customers significantly reduce lead times. The new Edge PT Pre-Pocketed Mold Bases, which come with pre-machined pockets and top locks already installed, are well suited for producing molds for even the thinnest walled parts. Pre-machined pockets enable a moldmaker to create separate cavity inserts and then place them into a pocket in the mold base, rather than machining directly into mold plate. In addition, the pre-installed top locks assure better alignment of the tool to meet part specifications. Compared to only using leader pins and bushings, top locks can significantly improve part quality. The new bases are available in five different sizes with three combinations for each size. All new bases also include the following Edge mold base features: Aplate, B-plate and support plates supplied with DME #3 steel; pry slots installed on both sides of “B” plate; lift holes installed; return pins installed 0.125 inboard to allow for spring pockets; leader pin vents machined in the housing under the bushing location; guided ejection installed; three-piece ejector housing; and center hole machining included. DME of Canada (Mississauga, Ont.); www.dme.net; 800-387-6600

Exclusive aluminium cage for food and medical technology

Together we shape your ideas HASCO CANADA INC. Tel: (800) 387 9609 Info.canada@hasco.com · www.hascoshop.com www.hasco.com

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AceTRONIC ...........................MT&D 7 ...... www.acetronic.com Basics of Injection Molding...MT&D 12 .... www.canplastics.com/ thebasicsofinjectionmoding Bohler-Uddeholm .................MT&D 19 .... www.bucanada.ca DME.....................................MT&D 21 .... www.dme.net DMS ....................................MT&D 2 ...... www.dmscomponents.com Ellwood Specialty Metals......MT&D 29 .... www.esm.elwd.com FARO Technologies Inc. ........MT&D 5 ...... www.faro.com Haas Automation, Inc. ..........MT&D 17 .... www.haascnc.com Hasco Canada Inc. ...............MT&D 30 .... www.hasco.com Hotset America ....................MT&D 15 .... www.hotset-worldwide.com Makino.................................MT&D 25 .... www.makino.com PCS Company ......................MT&D back cover ............................................................... www.pcs-company.com Progressive Components ......MT&D31 ..... www.procomps.com Renishaw .............................MT&D 27 .... www.renishaw.com Scientific Cutting Tools, Inc. .MT&D 13 ... www.sct-usa.com Schmolz + Bickenbach .........MT&D 11..... www.schmolz-bickenbach.ca Sorel Forge Co. ....................MT&D 8 ...... www.sorelforge.com

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April 2013

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Advertiser’s Index ADVERTISER

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Status: Failed

Status: Still Going...

who are you counting on?

know the difference Every mould you build has your name on it... and your reputation. Only Progressive offers you these advantages over all others: • Alignment components tested and proven to outlast imitators • Monitoring products that help coordinate proper PM activity • No “Made in China” products for your Canadian built moulds A mould will perform only as good as the parts within it. Keep your customers coming back. Utilize the only Canadian-owned and independently operated source for technically superior components.

learn how we test our products at www.procomps.com/z-series or call 1-800-269-6653

See Progressive Components at the following events: Plast-Ex | Amerimold | MD&M East | K 2013 | EuroMold

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