Cold Runner Molding Tool

Advantages:

• Simple mold tool
• Much lower cost than hot runner mold tool
• Easy to set up and operate
• Mold tool needs less maintenance and more reliable
• Colour changes can be done quickly as all plastic is ejected after every cycle – can change colour every cycle

During the mold cycle, the final part is cooling. When the tool is cooled, to solidify the plastic part, the plastic in the feeders (runners) also solidify and are ejected together with the part. The solidify feeder plastic, is waste and often contain faults, so is not easy to recycle.

Disadvantages:

The mold tool is less expensive than a hot runner mold tool but you should consider:

• Waste plastic created
• The waste material should be recycled or disposed of.
• Need to be very careful not to use the recycle material for parts that will come under stress in application
• Recycled waste will have variations

Cold Runner Mold tools can have multiple plates

Cold runner molds are the least expensive to build and maintain
Cold runner molds can have number of plates depending on the complexity of the part being molded:

• A two plate cold runner mold tool is the simplest and least expensive type of mold tool to produce. This type of mould tool will have a single parting plate, splitting the tool in two halves. The part will be injected from the perimeter (gated) and this can be seen on the finished product.

• A three plate cold runner tool, is different in that the gate can be located more flexibly, within an area which more efficient to the part’s design.