During the maintenance and long-term use of the mold, the disassembly convenience and reusability of the mold waterway plug are two key considerations, which directly affect the maintenance efficiency, cost and overall service life of the mold.
First, the disassembly convenience. The design structure of the mold waterway plug plays a decisive role in its disassembly. For example, the head shape design with an external hexagon or internal hexagon can provide a better focus point for the tool compared to the round and smooth head, making it easier to use tools such as wrenches for disassembly operations. At the same time, the thread design of the plug is also critical. Reasonable thread pitch and tooth angle can reduce friction and jamming during disassembly. If the thread is too thin or the tooth profile is irregular, it may bite after long-term use, making it difficult to disassemble. In addition, when installing the plug, applying an appropriate amount of high-temperature resistant and anti-bite grease will also help with subsequent disassembly work. Even after using it in a high-temperature environment, the plug can still be easily unscrewed.
Secondly, about reusability. The material selection of the plug is the core point. Plugs made of metal materials such as stainless steel or copper alloy have high strength and corrosion resistance. After multiple installation and removal, their structural integrity and sealing performance can still be maintained well. For example, stainless steel plugs are not easy to deform or damage after a certain number of water pressure shocks and temperature changes, and can be repeatedly used to seal mold waterways. For plastic plugs, if the material itself has good elastic recovery performance and wear resistance, such as some high-performance engineering plastics, they can also be reused many times under reasonable conditions of use. However, plastic plugs may be more sensitive to temperature and pressure, and the scope of use is relatively limited.
Furthermore, the sealing structure and method have a significant impact on reusability. For plugs with soft sealing gaskets or O-rings, after each disassembly, as long as the seal is not damaged, after proper cleaning and inspection, they can still ensure good sealing effects after reinstallation. For some plugs that rely on direct metal-to-metal sealing, the processing accuracy of the sealing surface is high, and after multiple disassembly, the sealing surface may be worn or scratched, affecting the sealing performance and reusability. Therefore, when designing a mold waterway plug, the reliability and maintainability of the sealing structure need to be comprehensively considered to extend the reuse cycle of the plug.
Finally, the use environment and maintenance measures of the mold waterway plug should not be ignored. In harsh working environments, such as high temperature, high humidity, strong acid and alkali conditions, the plug is more prone to corrosion, aging and other problems, reducing its reusability. Therefore, regular inspection and maintenance of the mold waterway system and timely cleaning of dirt and impurities on the surface of the plug are crucial to ensure the convenience of disassembly and reusability of the plug. At the same time, according to actual use, establish a reasonable plug replacement cycle and standard to ensure that the sealing performance of the mold waterway is always in good condition, thereby improving the overall operating efficiency and reliability of the mold.
