Once a design is finalized and a virtual prototype developed, we make the aluminum or steel mold and tools to manufacture the product. This is done in our Mold-making and Tooling Department where technicians build molds and tools that are precise to within 1/1000th (.001") of an inch.

The work once done by machinists on lathes, mills and other machinery is now done by computer-directed machines. Today's mold-makers load the computer file containing the product or part into a computer containing the CAD/CAM software. This allows the mold-maker to examine the part in 3-D. The mold-maker then directs the computer to operate the CNC tools that make the mold that will produce the part. The result is a more precise mold and a more exact part.

All CQM molds are built according to a 185-point checklist of specifications established by the Society of Plastics Engineers and the Society of the Plastics Industry. Approximately one-third of our molds are aluminum, while two-thirds are steel - usually P20 steel, or steel with hardened tooled-steel inserts. The finish in the mold that determines the surface texture of the finished part often requires a stone-polished EDM finish, but most surfaces are chemically etched. We guarantee our molds. We test them, provide a first-article report and make any necessary revisions.

Our resources include partnerships with state-of-the-art mold designers, mold makers and other vendors. It is common for us to have three to six molds under construction through these vendors at any one time. We frequently subcontract other processes, including plastic part design, mold design, wire EDM work, mold polishing, mold texturing, laser etching, cylindrical grinding, ID and OD thread grinding, metal stamping of tooling, jigs and fixtures, and masking. When appropriate, we use carefully selected vendors in China. These projects are monitored closely. The result has been significant savings to our customers without sacrifice of time or quality.

Please see these examples of our diverse abilities and experience in mold-making:

• Phantom or virtual tooling and molds.
  
• Prototype or pre-production insert molds.
  
• Prototype or pre-production complete molds.
  
• Production steel molds.
  
• High-production steel molds.
  
• Other tooling and fixtures.

Our Mold-making and Tooling Department includes the following list of equipment:

• HAAS CNC milling center
  
• Bridgeport mill with DRO
  
• Large Lagun mill with DRO
  
• Alliant mill with DRO
  
• SMG 50 AMP EDM
  
• Two 6X18 surface grinders
  
• Optical Comparator
  
• A variety of precision measurement tools
  
• A variety of outside vendors