As the world advances, machines have made our lives much easier and better. A machine is a system designed and made by human beings to get a particular work done fast and save money as there is little to no labor cost.

Some machines work completely automatically, and all you need to do is switch them on. For example, fully automatic washing machines. On the other hand, some machines require a human being to get started and need someone to keep them working, for example, sewing machines or bicycles.

Nowadays, CNC mold-making machines are gaining popularity on a large scale. CNC machines stand for computer numerical control machines. CNC mold-making machines make use of top-quality tool boards with high-end surfaces and also provide dimension stability. If you want to learn more about CNC machines and mold making, continue reading this extensive article and understand it.

All About Tooling Board

Tooling boards are also called machinable slabs or modeling boards. They help in making prototype tooling and master models. This technique came into the field to remove the traditional wire-to-place master model technologies.

This kind of board can be easily bonded to create bigger blocks that help with machine tools and models with CNC machinery. The technology of CNC is changing rapidly. This change, in turn, is helping to improve the productiveness of the particular machine used for molding.

As mentioned earlier, CNC machines make use of top-quality tool boards with high-end surface finishing and also provide dimension stability. They are used to carve molds and develop prototypes and models. This kind of board also provides stability and uniformity in different applications of prototype tooling.

In current times, tooling boards are in very high demand. Many companies are developing a huge variety of boards for tooling. They are available in various densities, and each of them is used to create fixtures and models.

Tooling Board Types

There are many different types of tooling boards available that are used for specific purposes:

Polyurethane Board

Polyurethane tooling boards are used for prototyping and modeling work in the automotive and other industries. These types of boards are extremely lightweight, and you can even join two boards together to make a bigger model. Lithium marine batteries can be used in machines that last pretty long.

Two kinds of Polyurethane board:

• Medium Density: Medium Density Polyurethane CNC Tooling Plate is a machinable plate created to produce patterns, models, prototypes, masters, jigs, and all the other types of instant tooling applications.

• High Density: This material is used for medium-sized foundry patterns, gratings, core boxers and risers. The red pattern board is a high-density board. A metal stamping manufacturer usually uses this to form metal, stretch and stamp.

Epoxy Board

Epoxy systems help in industrial toolings, such as molds, masters, jigs, castings, and industrial production. Casting and laminating are the two standard operation types used to manufacture epoxy tools.

The board has extreme level resistance to high temperature and excellent surface finish. This tooling plate helps increase demand in various industries such as transportation, aerospace, racing cars and vehicles.

Two kinds of epoxy boards are suggested for CNC machining for engraving accurate patterns and models.

EB6200

High-Temperature Epoxy Tooling Plates were developed to meet the needs of users who use prepregs to build composite part tooling. The excellent surface quality and functionality of EB6200 persist as the temperature range increases.

EB700

This high-quality epoxy tool board weighs 700 kg/m3. It is recommended for all CNC applications of precision models, samples, and production tools. Epoxy Tooling Plates are used in high-temperature applications and are essential to manufacturing prepreg composite molds at high temperatures. The board is offered in two thicknesses. One is 50 mm, the other is 100 mm thick, and the block size is 500 mm x 1500 mm (19 inches x 59 inches).

Urethane board

The CNC machinery uses a high-density urethane board for tooling, which is specifically manufactured for applications up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and sustained stress. Urethane is offered in sheets of various sizes, thicknesses, and densities.

They can be cut, glued to a finish, and shaped into various shapes. This tooling plate is used for prototyping, pattern making, water jet cutting, and artistic engraving. These boards are available wholesale just like other stuff such as fitness wholesale apparel or books in the market.

Reshape Board

This type of board offers a complete blend of machinability and durability for major lightweight urethane boards for modeling applications. This board can be found in different thicknesses to reduce waste and save time running all the other procedures.

Epoxy Board Applications for Mold Making

Mentioned below are the applications of epoxy tooling boards:

Prototyping

CNC machinery mainly converts CAD files into 3D models using medium-density modeling boards. A silicone mold can be created from an epoxy modeling board. It is used to create several replicas of silicon molds. This kind of application is useful only for small quantities.

Composite Tooling

The use of fiber-reinforced composites has increased the demand for tooling plates. Wood was once acknowledged as one of the most important components of heavy-duty tools due to its economy, but in recent years the cost of wood has skyrocketed.

Thermoforming

The thermoformed switches from wooden molds and dowels to Rampf modeling plates. It can be quickly machined manually or on a CNC machine and requires minimal sanding for a clean finish.

These molds need excellent high-temperature resistance, edge strength and durability to extend tool life. These kinds of tool boards offer a great balance of economy and performance.

Conclusion

To conclude, this was all about CNC mold-making machines and their types. CNC machines are used by companies and businesses around the world and it is very necessary to understand how it works and which one would be the best for you. Before you buy a machine, make sure you acquire all the knowledge about it. It is necessary to learn the pros and cons of everything.