To mass-produce an item that contains unique design elements, you will need to create a mold that the liquid metal or plastic can get poured into so that it can be shaped and then cooled into a solid. Many manufacturers will not commit to this unless the goal is to make 100,000 units or more. As molds start to wear with use, they are often given chrome plating to strengthen them. The guide below looks closer at the process involved.

What Does Mold Design Entail?

When you have an idea for a product, you might develop a rough handmade version. To formalize the design, you should work with an engineer to create a three-dimensional CAD model. This final image can then be reverse-constructed and broken down into individual parts that can be made on an assembly line and locked together during production. 

Molds are derived from these CAD models to contain hollow cavities in the shape of the necessary parts. They can be made of many different materials. For example, aluminum is often chosen for small jobs where you are trying to keep costs low since this affordable material wears easily. Hardened steel is longer lasting but has more difficulty when molding glass products. Stainless steel is non-corrosive and works well for projects requiring abrasive materials. 

Since many materials poured into molds shrink when they are cooled, the mold cavities are often sized up slightly to account for this temperature fluctuation. 

What Are the Benefits of Chrome Plating?

Hard chrome plating involves using an electroplating process to coat the mold in a layer of micro-cracked, micro-porous, porous, or crack-free chromium, each of which has different uses. For example, when the coated object is expected to encounter lubricant, porous chrome helps retain it.

In general, the plating process can repair molds that have become damaged. For example, if repeated use has made the mold too thin so that it doesn't fit into the machine correctly or produces incorrectly sized parts, chrome plating can smooth out rough areas or add back the necessary thickness. 

Chrome can also be applied to other manufacturing parts, which eases friction when they encounter each other. This lowers the risk of overheating and reduces wear to help your system run more productively. 

If you’re interested in chrome plating for your steel, stainless steel, cast iron, bronze, or brass molds, reach out to Porter-Guertin Co. in Cincinnati, OH. Part of the National Association of Metal Finishers, this company works with thickness ranges from .0001” to .050”. They can also apply a corrosion-resistant coating to plated products. To learn more about their capabilities, visit their website. Call (513) 241-7663 to discuss details of your project with a team member.