Prototype mold for blow-molding hollow plastic containers and method of

Abstract

Improved blow-molding prototype molding system, method and apparatus wherein a plastic container is first designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software to produce a geometric computer software model of a hollow plastic container of desired contour. This model is then used to generate a geometric computer software model of a corresponding mold cavity. This data file in turn provides the control signal for a cutting tool of a CNC three axis mold machining tool operating on a starting blank for each mold half of metal material having predetermined and constant length, width and thickness outside dimensions. A mold cavity is thereby automatically machined in a front face of this blank that constitutes one of the two major and parallel face planes of the mold half block. The other half of the mold cavity is similarly formed in the front face of a second mold half block that cooperates with the first mold block to form the two mold halves of a complete blow mold. The back faces of each of the mold halves as well as the top, bottom and two opposite sides remain as initially provided in the starting blank. Standardized major mold nest fixture components cooperate in assembly to support, locate, orient and cool the associated prototype mold halves. The structure of each mold half is thus reduced to its simplest form.