the starting point:
Partner wanted for the entire process chain
Cooperation with WS Audiology began at an early stage in the process. This allowed toolcraft to be involved in the complete process chain and to map it in its entirety.
The Challenge:
Filigree parts with a range of requirements
The plastics needed to produce the extremely small parts posed a particular challenge. In addition to a liquid-crystalline polymer, Ultramid® with a glass fibre content of 30% also had to be processed to overmould filigree stainless steel inserts measuring 2 x 3.8 mm. The moulds had to fulfil complex functions using compact inclined and underfloor sliders in a very confined space as well as inclined ejectors for snapping the halves of the hearing aid housing. The high-precision mould geometry for the smallest spotting areas was also important. In addition, the parts had to be produced without any burrs and the gap dimensions had to be observed precisely in order to form a surface that could be painted. An additional visual requirement was the need for the filigree assembly to include highly polished parts.
The Approach:
Everything from a single supplier
- Consultation with the client every step of the way, starting from the component development stage
- Design and construction of the injection moulds
- Development of a reliable production process through monitoring of the insertion tools
- Production of the injection-moulded parts
- Measurement and quality assurance using a CT scanner
The Results:
Extensive expertise produces high-quality results
toolcraft was able to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility and, in close cooperation with WS Audiology, succeeded in making injection moulds with extremely complex demoulding mechanics ready for series production.