Example 4 - A Biscuit Mould

This is a mould made in stainless steel for the manufacture of large numbers of intricately shaped biscuits. The basic constituent is rice, and it is pressed between two mould halves, baked and then it must easily separate from the mould surface before a new batch of product is injected.

Entering details of the consultation

Do this as in the earlier examples. Call the component a 'Mould'.

Choosing the type of contact

In this case, the problem is one of a product (the rice) in contact with your component. There is no other engineering component involved. Hence, you should click on Contact with a Product and change it to a tick. Then press OK.
The programme will follow the sequence of screens shown as the centre line on the facing page.

Choosing the substrate material

Click on Stainless Steel.

Entering the contact loading conditions

Click on 'Static Contact.' Although the product must be injected into the mould, you are not concerned about wear; you are more concerned about obtaining good surface release properties.

Entering more contact conditions

You might be tempted to click on Low Friction here, but that applies to sliding situations. Leave this screen as it is, accepting the loading as being light.

Specifying the product being handled

Click on Dry Food Product, it is the nearest to describing your biscuit.

Specifying the hardness

The programme has entered the value for you; 450Hv. You can change it if you wish, but in this situation the programme is best believed.

Specifying the required surface finish

The component does not have to be smooth. Enter 1µ in the top boxes. You don't want to have to finish it afterwards so leave 'Post Machining' as a cross. Because you are allowing a rough surface, the programme does not ask you about surface roughening prior to coating.

Selecting partial coating options

Select Defined Areas Must be Coated.
 Entering the operating temperature
The product is baked at 80^oC. You Don't Care how hot you get it during coating.

Specifying chemical contamination

Click on Water; the biscuit material is injected as a rice/water mix.

Requirements for mould release or food approval

Set both these boxes to a tick.

Describing the component's geometry

The mould is a 'Complex' shape; click on that and move on.

Entering the component dimensions

It is 150mm by 150mm.

Examining the results

 
There are only 10 processes that are suitable. In this example, it is the constraint of the need for mould release and food approval that eliminates many of the possible coating options.
Scan through list of rejected coatings and view the reasons for their unsuitability.
 
 

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Production facilities in Cardif & Gloucester and in Wisconsin. USA.