Plastic Injection Mold Classifications & Lifetime
Elite Mold & Engineering adheres to the SPI/SPE Mold Classifications, standards established by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). These classifications define mold types based on expected lifespan, quality, and precision. Below are the typical classifications with brief descriptions of each.
Class 105 Injection Mold
Class 105 Mold
- Cycles: Less than 500 cycles.
- Type: Prototype mold.
- Materials: Soft materials like aluminum or epoxy.
- Features:
- Only intended for very low volume or prototype runs.
- Minimal design for cost efficiency.
Class 104 Injection Mold
Class 104 Mold
- Cycles: Under 100,000 cycles.
- Type: Low production mold.
- Materials: Aluminum or mild steel mold bases.
- Features:
- Often used for prototyping or low-volume production.
- Limited durability and cooling provisions.
Class 103 Injection Mold
Class 103 Mold
- Cycles: Under 500,000 cycles.
- Type: Medium production mold.
- Materials: Mold bases typically steel or aluminum; cores and cavities often made of P-20 steel or similar materials.
- Features:
- Designed for medium-volume production.
- Less durable than Class 101 or 102 molds but still suitable for moderate production volumes.
Class 102 Injection Mold
Class 102 Mold
- Cycles: Up to 1 million cycles.
- Type: Medium to high production mold.
- Materials: Mold bases and cores typically made from steel. Hardened tool steel recommended.
- Features:
- Suitable for medium to high-volume runs.
- Good cooling and moving part considerations, but slightly less stringent than Class 101.
Class 101 Injection Mold
Class 101 Mold
- Cycles: Over 1 million cycles.
- Type: High production mold.
- Materials: Typically steel mold bases with hardened tool steels for cavities and cores.
- Features:
- Extremely high durability.
- Detailed cooling provisions.
- All moving parts must be heat-treated.
- Maintenance requirements should be specified.
