The purpose of Mold certification step is to verify cavity and mold base dimensions and materials of mold construction. Cavity and neck insert dimensions, mold cooling channel diameter dimensions, cooling line connector diameter dimensions, mold backing plate mounting hole pattern, mounting bolt hole diameter dimension and mounting bolt hole thread type should be verified with the mold and blow molding machine platen prints. Dimensions for the mold mounting bolt holes and the bolt hole pattern in the mold backing plates are verified to help avoid machine scheduling delays during mold installation, initial start-up and process optimization procedures.
The Mold Certification procedure should be performed at the mold builder to expedite any required mold modifications and to help avoid delays during mold installation, process start-up and process optimization procedures. Mold certification documentation must be provided by the mold builder for review before the molds are shipped to the production blow molding plant.
Use of the specified materials in mold construction help to ensure the required level of mold mechanical integrity necessary to meet production run requirements. The specified materials of mold construction also provide the required level of heat transfer characteristics in the neck insert, cavity and pinch-off areas during production.
Mold cooling channel and cooling line connector dimensions should be verified so that heat transfer in the mold is optimized and so that cooling control may be maintained during production. Cavity and neck insert dimensions should be verified to establish the mold dimension ‘base line’ before process optimization procedures are initiated. The ‘base line’ dimension data may be used later in the process optimization procedures and for process centering purposes