Interchangeable Mold Inserts
Multiple parts that have only minor variations between them may be produced using interchangeable mold inserts. All common features are produced by the cavity, but the unique feature is produced with an insert that can be pulled out and replaced with another insert containing an alternative feature. Fig. 30 illustrates a mold with interchangeable inserts to produce 2 different parts. Sharing a common mold and utilizing inserts minimizes the tooling fabrication needed, thus providing tooling cost savings. As with any metal-to-metal seal-off areas, there will be a slight witness mark on the part and this should taken into consideration during the design stage. It should also be noted that interchangeable inserts can generally be accommodated on low to medium volume parts, but high annual volume applications are normally better served with independent molds for each part design configuration.
