AMTS08 Guide lines for Hot Manifolds and Gating

8.1  Prior to the start of the mold design, the following details should be discussed and approved by Argo Mold:

8.1.1  The source for hot manifold and bushings.

8.2  If the tool shop is responsible for mold flow analysis, preliminary mold design must be sent to flow source as soon as possible. Preliminary design must include proposed drop locations for start points.

8.3  Preliminary mold design must be sent to manifold source for cost and delivery quotes as soon as possible.

8.4  If mold flow analysis recommends different drop locations, designer must check steel conditions and how part is affected.

8.5  After final drop locations are approved by Argo Mold, designer must provide a manifold source with one copy of mold flow analysis and one set of revised mold design drawings. “NOTE:” Designer is responsible for providing a manifold source with revised drawings if any mold design changes occur that affect manifold and/or bushings.

8.6  Manifold sources must include a cad file with preliminary design. Designer is responsible for approving preliminary design and fax authorization to proceed to a manifold source. Final manifold design must be included in mold design.

8.7  Mold design must include “A” size isometric view of manifold and bushings, showing all zones, top of mold, operator side, tool shop build number, customer name, part name and number, and manifold source job number. “NOTE:” drawing and characters must be clear and legible for making photo-etched aluminum manifold plaque to attach to operator side of mold. Size of plaque will be determined from space available on mold.

8.8  Mold design must include reduced size flame cut drawing for manifold spacer plate that purchasing department can fax to flame cutting source. Flame-cut holes should allow approximately .750" constant all around except at terminals, where clearance should be 2.5" from edges of manifold to allow for rigid portions of terminal wire. Flame cut drawing must have sufficient dimensions and notes including material and thickness tolerance.

8.9  Heater and thermocouple wires must not be spliced internally. Designer is responsible for informing manifold sources of minimum length required.

8.10  Sections are required through all nozzle drops. If the drop is located on an angle or contoured surface, section must show longest length of the nozzle.

8.11  All nozzle drops must be keyed to prevent rotation.

8.12  Enlarged partial view or section of nozzle tip should be included fully dimensioned.

8.13  Special locating ring and/or machine nozzle extension on manifold are required to prevent plastic from entering wire channels and clearance areas.

8.14  If tool shop is responsible for making manifold and nozzles, watts per cubic inch for heating plastic must be confirmed with Argo Mold or supplier to calculate total wattage required. Normally 25-40 watts per cubic inch are used to calculate total wattage.

8.15  Hot bushings will be designed and built to the following design guide lines:

8.15.1  Type of bushing, voltage, gate tip style, spherical radius, location and type of heater and thermocouple receptacles, must be to Argo Mold standards.

Formula: Expansion=L” x 380 x .00000633

8.16  Cold sprue bushing must be to Argo Mold standards.”O” diameter and spherical radii must be shown on section view.

8.17  Bushing must be keyed to prevent rotation.

8.18  If bushing is recessed in cavity block, diameter and depth of the bore must be approved by Argo Mold.

8.19  Sucker ejector pins are required opposite sprue bushing.

8.20  Runners and gates must be fully detailed and approved by Argo Mold.

8.20.1  Unless otherwise specified, the runner will be full-round. Maximum allowable mismatches will be .020”. The diameter of the runner should be matched accordingly to the material and part design. All runners are to have cold slug wells at least 1.5 times longer than the diameter of the runner.