Two plate mould or 2 plate mold is a type of injection mold that consists of two separate halves, or plates, that come together to form the mold cavity. One plate is the stationary half of the mold (cavity side), while the other is the moving half (core side). The two halves are held together by clamping forces during the injection molding process. This type of mold is commonly used for creating simple, symmetrical parts and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture compared to more complex multi-plate molds. Two plate mould are most of popular injection mold on the market because the low cost and high quality and easy to make comparing to 3 plate mold.
two plate injection mold
Types of Two Plate Moulds
There are several types of two plate molds, some sample are below:
Single-cavity two plate mold: This type of 2 plate mold has only one cavity and is used to produce one part at a time.
Multi-cavity two plate mold: This type of mold has multiple cavities and is used to produce multiple parts at a time.
Family mold: This type of 2 plate mold is used to produce multiple parts that are similar in design but have slight variations.
Stack mold: This type of mould is used to produce multiple layers of a part in a single injection molding cycle.
Unscrewing mold: This type of mold is used to produce parts that have threads, such as a bottle cap.
Overmold: This type of mold is used to produce parts that have multiple materials, such as a soft-grip handle on a tool.
hot runner tow plate mold? This type of two plate mould that have hot runner systems in the mould, and nor normally used to the big part or multiple cavity mould.
Each type of two plate mold has its own unique design and manufacturing requirements, and the choice of which type to use will depend on the specific application and the part being produced.
Advantages of Using Two Plate Injection Moulds
There are several advantages to using a 2 plate injection mold in the injection molding process, including:
Cost-effective: Two plate molds are relatively simple in design and can be less expensive to manufacture compared to more complex 3-plate injection mold.
Versatile: They are suitable for producing simple, symmetrical parts and can be used with a variety of materials, including plastics and metals.
Quick turnaround: Two plate molds can be designed and manufactured relatively quickly, which can help to speed up the production process.
Easy maintenance: Two plate molds are easy to maintain and repair, and can be disassembled and reassembled quickly if needed.
Ease of use: They are easy to use, which can be helpful for operators who are new to the injection molding process.
Easy to inspect: It is easy to inspect the cavities of two plate molds and make sure that the mold is in good condition.
Energy Efficient: They don’t need extra energy to hold the mold as compare to multi-plate moulds.
These advantages make two plate molds a popular choice for many mould manufacturers, particularly those who are producing simple, symmetrical parts in high volumes.
Disadvantages of Using 2 Plate Moulds
While two plate cold molds have many advantages, there are also some disadvantages to using them in the injection molding process, including:
Limited design options: Two plate molds are limited in terms of the complexity of the parts they can produce. They are not suitable for producing parts that have undercuts, internal threads or complex geometries.
Limited to simple geometries: They are limited to simple geometries, and not suitable for producing parts that have complex shapes or big part size or special surface requirement, for example if part size is too big, 2 plate cold mold will not able to full fill the mold cavity.
Limited to single-sided parts: Two plate molds are not suitable for producing parts that have details on both sides, as the core and cavity are located on the same half of the mold.
Overall, two plate cold runner molds are a cost-effective and versatile option for producing simple, symmetrical parts in high volumes, but they are limited in terms of the complexity and big size of parts, of course can use two plate hot runner mold to solve this big size of parts. but price for the mold will be increased as well.
How to Design a 2 Plate Injection Mould
Designing a 2 plate injection mold requires a comprehensive understanding of the injection molding process and the specific requirements of the part to be produced. Here is a general guide to designing a two plate mold but not limited below steps:
Understand the part requirements: The first step in designing a 2-plate injection mold is to thoroughly understand the requirements of the part to be produced. This includes the overall dimensions, the material to be used, the number of parts to be produced, and any other specific requirements such as threads, undercuts, or multiple colors.
Create a 3D model of the part: Create a 3D model of the part using computer-aided design (CAD) software. This model will be used to create the mold cavities and to ensure that the finished part will have the correct dimensions.
Design the mold layout: Determine the layout of the mold, including the position of the sprue, runners, and gates, as well as the location of the ejector pins and other mold components.
Design the mold cavities: Create the mold cavities using the 3D model of the part. The cavities are the spaces in the mold where the plastic is injected and solidifies to form the part.
Design the mold plates: Design the mold plates by creating a 2D drawing of the mold cavities. The mold plates are typically made of steel or aluminum and are precision-machined to ensure that the finished part will have the correct dimensions.
Determine the mold size and clamping force: Determine the size of the mold and the required clamping force. The size of the mold will depend on the size of the part and the number of cavities required. The clamping force will depend on the size of the mold and the material being used.
Design the cooling system: Design the cooling system for the mold. A proper cooling system is critical to ensure that the plastic solidifies quickly and evenly, which will help to produce parts with high dimensional accuracy.
Design the mold ejection system: Design the mold ejection system, which is used to remove the finished part from the mold.
Finalize the design: Once the design is complete, it should be reviewed and finalized. All the dimensions and tolerances should be double-checked to ensure that the mold will produce parts that meet the required specifications.
It’s important to note that this is a general guide and the specific steps may vary depending on the design of the two plate mold, the type of plastic being used, and the equipment being used.
Guide to Manufacturing with a Two Plate Mould
Here are some general guides to manufacturing with a two plate mold:
Design the mold: The first step in manufacturing with a two plate mold is to design the mold. This includes creating 3D models of the part to be produced and the mold itself, as well as determining the layout and dimensions of the mold’s various components.
Create the mold cavities: Once the mold design is complete, the mold cavities are created. These cavities are the spaces in the mold where the plastic is injected and solidifies to form the part.
Create the mold plates: The mold plates are then created by machining the mold cavities into the plates. The mold plates are typically made of steel or aluminum and are precision-machined to ensure that the finished part will have the correct dimensions.
Assemble the mold: The mold plates are then assembled by clamping them together using bolts or other fastening mechanisms. The mold is then secured in place in the injection molding machine.
Prepare the plastic: The next step is to prepare the plastic that will be used to fill the mold cavities. This typically involves heating the plastic to a high temperature and then injecting it into the mold cavities under pressure.
Inject the plastic: Once the plastic is at the correct temperature, it is injected into the mold cavities using the injection molding machine. The plastic is then left to cool and solidify within the cavities.
Remove the finished part: Once the plastic has cooled and solidified, the mold is opened and the finished part is removed. The part is then inspected for quality and any necessary adjustments are made to the mold.
Repeat the process: The process is repeated as necessary to produce the desired number of parts.
It’s important to note that this is a general guide and the specific steps may vary depending on the design of the two plate mold, the type of plastic being used, and the equipment being used.
Do you have a project that needs plastic mould service? Contact us to get a price.
