Designing Restrained State Quality Fixtures for Flexible Plastic Assemblies
Restrained state fixtures simulate final assembly fasteners with calibrated clamps on datum targets to measure flexible plastic profiles accurately.
Tool Steel AISI D2
Meaning
Hardened steel grade used to resist the abrasive wear caused by glass-filled resins in injection moulding tools. Tool steel AISI D2 is prized for its exceptional hardness and resistance to abrasion, which is necessary when processing reinforced polymers. The material undergoes a heat treatment process to reach a Rockwell hardness often exceeding 60 HRC.
This durability ensures that the critical dimensions of the tool remain constant over hundreds of thousands of cycles.
Wear Resistance
Abrasive fibers in modern polymers can quickly erode softer metals. Tool steel AISI D2 maintains its sharp edges and precise tolerances even in high-pressure contact areas. It is frequently used for core pins, gate inserts and sliding elements that experience constant friction.
Choosing this steel reduces the maintenance costs and downtime associated with tool repair.
Dimensional Stability
Minimal movement during the hardening process allows for the machining of precise details. While some steels warp significantly during heat treatment, tool steel AISI D2 is relatively stable. This property allows for the creation of complex interlocking features that must fit together with minimal clearance.
It provides the reliable performance needed for high-tolerance medical or electronic components.
Machining Cost
Hardness makes the material difficult to cut after treatment.