Toolmaking

by Paul
(Australia)

I make plastic injection moulds for food packaging products(tubs and lids made from polypropylene plastic).

The moulds are made to last for millions of cycles so the cores and cavities are made from H13 thru hardened tool steel 46-48 HRC.

The rest of the mould (the plates) uses prehardened P20 mould steel. This is then electroless nickel plated for corrosion resistance. Sometimes instead of P20, Ramax stainless steel is used when a customer is prepared to pay for it!