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Robert LaLonde
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I decided I needed to change the sprue and runner layout on a multiple piece stacker plate low pressure injection mold. I don't have to recut all 11 pieces (10 cavity mold). I just needed to modify the first two. Rather than recut them I decided I would modify them.
Now remember, other than getting paid to CNC machine molds and a few other parts. I'm not a "real" machinist. I didn't apprentice in a shop sweeping floors and sharpening drill bits for a hundred years first. So, while I know how (or can figure out how) to do a lot of things I'm not super skilled at a lot of basic things a more experienced machinist would be.
Plate 2 is no big deal. Just machine half of a sprue and two runners into the face of it. No existing machined feature is an issue. Both machines I cut these plates on are still indexed to just drop the plates back in place with a table mounted work stop still in place. Since I didn't want to recut them I had to pin a couple holes. I spent some time thinking about it, and some more time hunting up the smallest stock on hand I could turn down to make the pins, then I hunted for pieces that are already to short for another project I'll be starting on shortly. Finally I turned down some pins to press in. Of course I dropped one in the chip tray. After five minutes of hunting for a .163 x .30 pin in all that debris (I cleaned it out a couple weeks ago) I just cut it again. Then I made a pin guide for the small one to make sure it would start straight, and finally I pressed them in. Now I am ready to put the two pieces on the machines and make the new sprue and runner cuts.
Well, I just looked at the clock. If I had just walked out to the saw and whacked off another piece of stock and recut the top plate from scratch I'd have been done an hour ago. LOL.
Now remember, other than getting paid to CNC machine molds and a few other parts. I'm not a "real" machinist. I didn't apprentice in a shop sweeping floors and sharpening drill bits for a hundred years first. So, while I know how (or can figure out how) to do a lot of things I'm not super skilled at a lot of basic things a more experienced machinist would be.
Plate 2 is no big deal. Just machine half of a sprue and two runners into the face of it. No existing machined feature is an issue. Both machines I cut these plates on are still indexed to just drop the plates back in place with a table mounted work stop still in place. Since I didn't want to recut them I had to pin a couple holes. I spent some time thinking about it, and some more time hunting up the smallest stock on hand I could turn down to make the pins, then I hunted for pieces that are already to short for another project I'll be starting on shortly. Finally I turned down some pins to press in. Of course I dropped one in the chip tray. After five minutes of hunting for a .163 x .30 pin in all that debris (I cleaned it out a couple weeks ago) I just cut it again. Then I made a pin guide for the small one to make sure it would start straight, and finally I pressed them in. Now I am ready to put the two pieces on the machines and make the new sprue and runner cuts.
Well, I just looked at the clock. If I had just walked out to the saw and whacked off another piece of stock and recut the top plate from scratch I'd have been done an hour ago. LOL.