Essential machinery in a mould and die workshop

At Heller we want to tell you about the essential machines for a mould and die workshop.

Although more advanced technologies exist today, such as additive manufacturing (3D printing) or numerical control (CNC) machining, conventional machinery is still widely used in the manufacture of dies and press tools in workshops.

Although the new technologies have their advantages, conventional machines remain an essential tool in die workshops, as they make it possible to work with a wide variety of materials and to carry out precise and high-quality work in the manufacture of dies and press tools.

We focus on conventional machinery within a die workshop for several reasons. Conventional machines are cheaper than CNC ones. They are also versatile and easy to use and maintain, which makes them ideal for machining small and medium-sized parts. At Heller, as experts in conventional machinery, we talk about what we know: very competitive prices, wide versatility and very simple maintenance procedures make them the perfect ally for machining small and medium-sized parts. At Heller, extensive experience over the years has shown us this.

Essential conventional machines in a mould and die workshop

In a die workshop, some of the conventional machines that cannot be missing are:

• Blanking presses
• Lathes
• Milling machines
• Grinding machines
• Drilling machines
• Bandsaws
• Press

Blanking presses

Blanking presses are machines used essentially for cutting and forming parts by means of a die and a punch. They can be found in mechanical and hydraulic versions, the difference being the force used to cut the part.

These machines are ideal for manufacturing parts in series because they are very precise and fast, which is why they are essential machines.

Lathes

In a die workshop, the conventional lathe is used to machine workpieces with cylindrical and conical shapes.

Milling machines

There are several types of conventional milling machines used in a die and press tool workshop:

• Universal milling machine:

Its versatility allows milling, drilling, tapping, notching and perforating. It is ideal for machining parts with complex shapes.

• Turret milling machine:

It is used for machining parts with complex shapes. It is characterised by having a head that rotates around a vertical axis and a table that moves on several axes.

• Bench milling machine:

Its use is focused on machining parts with simpler shapes. It is characterised by having a head that moves along a guide and a table that moves on several axes.

Grinding machines

In a die workshop, a variety of conventional grinding machines can be used to achieve a perfect finish on the parts and thus guarantee precision and quality in the manufacture of dies and press tools.

HELLER sells both surface grinders and cylindrical grinders

Surface grinders

They are used to grind flat parts, such as plates, bases and table surfaces.

Cylindrical grinders

They are used to grind cylindrical parts, such as shafts, bearings and gears. At Heller the cylindrical grinders also have the option of internal grinding, which is used to grind parts with holes, such as bearings, bushes and flanges.

Drilling machines

In a die workshop we can find drilling machines in different versions, and they are generally used for drilling dies and press tools.

• Radial arm drill

It is characterised by having a head that rotates around a vertical axis and a table that moves on several axes, and it is used for drilling workpieces with simple shapes.

• Pillar drill

It is characterised by having a head that moves along a guide and a table that moves on several axes, and it is also used for drilling parts with simple shapes.

• Bench drill:

It is characterised by having a head that moves along a guide and a table that moves on several axes, and it is used for drilling holes in small or medium-sized parts.

Bandsaws

Bandsaws are machines used in a die workshop to cut metal or plastic parts needed for the manufacture of dies and press tools.

It is a versatile tool and is used to cut a variety of materials, from steel, aluminium and stainless steel, to materials such as copper, plastic and bronze. It is ideal for cutting parts of great length and cross-section, since it can cut through very thick materials and is capable of making precise, clean cuts. In addition, they can cut parts to specific lengths and with precise dimensions so that they fit perfectly into the die.

Presses

Presses are machines used in a die workshop to mould or shape metal or plastic parts needed for the manufacture of dies and press tools. They are also used to stamp or bend the parts into specific shapes. Their use for moulding and forming in die-making work is of great importance.

As with blanking presses, there are different types of presses, but the most common in a die workshop are hydraulic and mechanical presses.

Other machines found in die workshops are conventional machines such as bench grinders and polishing machines, to achieve a perfect finish on dies and press tools.

Conclusion

In summary, these are only some of the machines, or the most important ones, that should be found in a workshop specialising in dies and press tools. At Heller we have focused on conventional machinery, but the reality is that both kinds of machine, conventional and CNC, are used, even in a complementary way, for each of the different stages of the manufacturing process.

Therefore, including machinery for your workshop, regardless of the machine mentioned here, depends on factors such as production, staff training in machine handling and the level of investment. Let yourself be advised by machinery experts if you have any doubts.