Tool Ownership Clauses When the Steel Sits in Another Factory
Legal title to injection tooling requires separate bailment contracts, explicit payment milestone transfers, and permanent asset tagging to defeat possessory liens.
Mechanical Cycle Counter
Meaning
Machine monitoring devices record the number of molding cycles executed by a tool during its operation. Installing a mechanical cycle counter directly on a mold base ensures that every closing and opening movement is counted. This provides a record of tool usage that cannot be lost when the mold is moved to a different machine or stored in a warehouse.
Operational Mechanism
The device features a spring loaded plunger or actuator arm that is depressed every time the mold clamps shut to execute a shot. This mechanical movement advances a series of internal digit wheels, which increments the total cycle count. The metal housing of the counter is designed to withstand the high temperatures of heated molds and the mechanical shocks of high speed clamp operations, ensuring reliable tracking over millions of cycles without requiring an external power source.
Maintenance Schedule
Tool rooms use the recorded cycle count to trigger preventative maintenance tasks, such as cleaning, lubrication, and seal replacement. These tasks are scheduled at specific intervals, such as every fifty thousand cycles, to prevent tool wear. This preventative approach avoids the high costs and production delays associated with mold failures during runs.
Asset Protection
Comparing the cycle count against the tool life guarantee helps processors track the remaining service life of the mold. It provides hard data for negotiating replacement contracts. This tracking ensures that tooling investments are managed efficiently.