Ultra-fast cycling molds for plastic processing

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What does “Tahcytherm” mean?

A. “Tachytherm” is a trademark, and as such, has no intrinsic meaning. It is, however evocative of the term “tachyallassothermic”, which is derived from the Greek words “tachy”, meaning rapid, “allasso”, meaning change or exchange, and “thermé”, meaning heat. A Tachytherm^TM mold is an efficient heat exchanger or a “rapid exchanger of heat”.

Q. How are Tachytherm^TM molds better than ordinary molds?
A. Tachytherm^TM molds are better than ordinary molds because they run faster and produce better parts. They do this because they have exceptional thermal exchange efficiency. This means that heat can be removed from the polymer inside a Tachytherm^TM mold faster and more uniformly than from an ordinary mold. That results in reduced cooling time and lower distortion from uneven cooling. More details on how and why can be found here.

Q. How are Tachytherm^TM molds better than other molds with conformal cooling?

A.Other methods of achieving conformal cooling do not generally include the use of strategically placed high thermal conductivity materials, as Tachytherm^TM molds do. This creates a high thermal conductivity envelope around the cavities of a Tachytherm^TM mold, which direct heat from the mold cavity to the conformal cooling channels. We believe this is unique to Tachytherm^TM molds, and Tachytherm^TM molds are the only commercially available molds of this kind. Also significant: Tachytherm^TM molds are manufactured by combining long-established mold making practices. Most of these can be done with standard equipment already found in most mold making shops. No investment in newly-developed free-form additive fabrication equipment is required for the mold maker. The Tachytherm^TM mold making process simply combines these long–established practices in an unconventional way, to produce a technologically advanced product.

Q. Does a Tachytherm^TM mold cost more than an ordinary mold?

A. There’s no simple answer to that question. Because the Tachytherm^TM mold cavity is produced by electroforming, it can be more expensive to produce if the cavity has a very simple shape. If, however, the mold has a complex cavity geometry and especially if there are multiple cavities, the Tachytherm^TM mold making process may actually be cheaper than conventional mold making. This must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In general, however, even relatively simple shapes, which may cost more to electroform than to conventionally machine, may be difficult to cool efficiently with gun-drilled cooling lines. This means that the money saved running such a part in a fast-cycling Tachytherm^TM mold will generally pay for any higher initial cost within a relatively short time. Thereafter, the savings go straight to the molder’s bottom line.

Q. Hasn’t this approach been tried before?

A. There have been some similar approaches, though none exactly like the Tachytherm^TM mold making process. For instance, In the late 1990’s, A firm called ExpressTool in Warwick, Rhode Island developed a process, which used a similar electroformed mold cavity. Their process involved brazing copper tubing onto the electroform to form conformal cooling channels, then over-plating and back filling with a polymer-based composite to form the mold insert. This process was rather protracted, and was ultimately not commercailly viable, though early results proved its effectiveness at reducing cycle times in injection molding applications. The Tachytherm^TM mold making process has all the main advantages of the ExpressTool process, but is much more straightforward and practical.The resulting mold plate or insert looks similar to a conventional mold component, and behaves the same, except that it has unsurpassed thermal exchange efficiency.

Q. Where can I buy a Tachytherm^TM mold?

A. Tachytherm^TM molds can be purchased through ConforMAL, Inc. (see “Contact” page). They can also be purchased from any mold maker willing to become a licensee of the Tachytherm^TM mold making process. We will be happy to work with your preferred mold maker, to license and instruct them how to make Tachytherm^TM molds. The Tachytherm^TM mold making process is not difficult, and can be performed by any competent mold maker.

Q. I’m a mold maker and am comfortable with all aspects of the Tachytherm^TM mold making process except for electroforming. How can I use the Tachytherm^TM mold making process?
A. ConforMAL has identified competent contract electroformers and manufacturers of electroforming equipment. We are happy to assist you in contracting out this portion of the Tachytherm^TM mold making process, or in purchasing the equipment to do it yourself.