Moldes rígidos versus moldes macios: uma comparação abrangente

Hard molds and soft molds: Compare

Hard Molds Versus Soft Molds: A Comprehensive Comparison

What are soft casts?

Soft molds (excluding silicone molds) refer to molds made of materials such as NAK80 steel. The mold core of this type of material is generally pre-hardened and can be machined directly without the need for additional heat treatment before being put into production.

What are rigid molds?

In contrast, hard molds refer to molds in which the mold core material is annealed before mechanical processing, then undergoes heat treatment after machining is completed, and finally undergoes electrical discharge machining to achieve the final shape .

Comparison between hard molds and soft molds

The following is a comparison of mold production costs, processes, and lifespan:

Comparison Items: Soft molds Hard molds
Mold Frame Price The same The same
Mold Core Price According to the size of the product, there is a difference of several hundred to two thousand yuan in the mold core material.
Processing technology and steps Precision Machining (CNC and Electrical Discharge Machining) Rough Machining (CNC)

Quenching and Tempering for Hardening

Precision Machining (Electrical Discharge Machining)
Subsequent treatment (polishing or chemical etching) The same The same
Mold manufacturing time For rough machining, hard molds require 1 to 2 days.

For heat treatment, soft molds are 5 to 8 days faster than hard molds.

Overall, the difference is about 10 days.
Mold accuracy The same The same
Mold Modification Soft molds have fewer steps, which makes them relatively cheaper and easier to work with. Rigid molds have more complex steps, making mold modifications more expensive.
Lifespan 10k-30k pieces They can reach up to 5,000,000 pieces.
Frequency and Cost of Mold Repairs Producing several thousand parts can result in defects such as burrs and burrs, which require mold repair.

The cost depends on the extent of the damage, but generally costs a few hundred yuan.

 Mold repair is rarely necessary, but the cost of mold repair can be relatively expensive.

Reasons for lower cost of soft molds:

1. If the size of the product is large, a single mold core of a soft mold can save about 1,000 yuan in costs.

2. The manufacturing process is simple, such as quenching and tempering, which can save about 2,000 yuan per single mold.

3. If a product has many components, more molds will be required and the total price of flexible molds will be significantly lower for Project 1 and Project 2.

4. Due to the lack of quenching and tempering processes, the time required for mold modification is shorter and the cost is cheaper.

In summary, the advantages and disadvantages of soft molds are as follows: they have cheap mold cores, require fewer processing steps, have shorter mold manufacturing cycles, are easier to modify but have a shorter lifespan, and may require more frequent repairs. They are suitable for production runs of less than 30,000 pieces.

In general, when the product size is small, the reduction in mold costs may not be significant. In fact, when considering maintenance costs in later stages, the actual cost may be higher. In terms of timing, a soft mold can be delivered 5 to 8 days in advance.

In the mold development process, we recommend offering a unified price for soft and hard molds. Then, comprehensively consider factors such as cost, time, product procurement volume and downstream risks before deciding which mold shape to use.

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