Mold and Die
Applications
Blow Molds
A plastic preform is heated and filled with pressurized air inside a mold, and the resulting shape is the the container or vessel for fluids. Common applications are gas tanks, reservoirs for coolant and power steering fluids, ducting and tubing.
Bond Fixtures/Layup Molds
Bond fixtures and layup molds come in a variety of types, including Invar, steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, and hybrid Invar and composite. TARUS 5-axis CNC machines are commonly used to in the aerospace tooling industry to manufacture these tools.
Compression Molds
Compression molding is a forming process in which a plastic material is placed directly into a heated metal mold then is softened by the heat and therefore forced to conform to the shape of the mold, as the mold closes. Compression molding applied to automobile and heavy truck body applications typically refer to SMC or Sheet Molded Composites.
Diecast Dies
Die casting is a manufacturing process in which molten metal is forced into steel molds. The advantage of this process is the accuracy and repeatability compared to traditional pour casting. Die cast automotive components include aluminum transmission cases, bell housings, suspension components, and bulkheads. TARUS machines are utilized in the production of the die cast die as well as machining the cast aluminum components.
Forging Dies
Forging dies are consumable tooling used in the process of manufacturing highly durable automotive components such as connecting rods, crankshafts, differential gears, and steering arms.
Gundrilling/Deephole Drilling
In 1973, TARUS unveiled our first gundrilling machine which was designed for injection mold and die cast die builders. TARUS was the first company to build purpose-designed gundrilling for drilling large molds and we continue to be the leader with our DHDM deephole drilling and milling machines
Hydroforming
Hydroforming is a specialized type of die forming that uses a high pressure hydraulic fluid to press room temperature working material into a die. Hydroforming allows complex shapes with concavities to be formed, which would be difficult or impossible with standard solid die stamping. Hydroformed parts can often be made with a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio and at a lower per unit cost than traditional stamped or stamped and welded parts. Virtually all metals capable of cold forming can be hydroformed, including aluminum, brass, carbon and stainless steel, copper, and high strength alloys.
Injection Molds
Injection molding is a manufacturing process where melted plastic is forced under pressure into steel or aluminum molds. These molds are cooled by liquid to solidify the part.
Inspection/CMM
Stamped and molded components are measured using a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) after forming and before assembly to ensure quality and precision.
Pellet Dies
Pellet dies typically come in two forms, either flat or ring-shaped. A roller forces raw material or feedstock under intense pressure to produce pellets. Pellet dies are driven by the main motor of a pellet mill. Pellet holes and thickness of pellet die determine the pellet size and features. Common applications are livestock feed, pet foods, scientific, medical, and biofuels.
Prototype/Low Volume Stamping Dies
Prototype stamping dies are used for body development, and building vehicles used for crash testing. CNC machines are used to mill precise contoured surfaces into the Kirksite prototype stamping die.
Roto Molds
Roto molds, or rotational molding, involves a heated hollow mold which is filled with a charge or shot weight of material. It is then slowly rotated (usually around two perpendicular axes), causing the softened material to disperse and stick to the walls of the mold. In order to maintain even thickness throughout the part, the mold continues to rotate at all times during the heating phase and to avoid sagging or deformation also during the cooling phase.
Stack Molds
Stack molds have multiple mold parting surfaces or mold split lines in one mold. Instead of increasing the mold size by adding more cavities, a stack mold maintains mold size and machine size by adding a second layer of cavities parallel to the first layer.
Stamping Dies
Stamping dies are used to form steel and aluminum body panels, chassis components and other automobile components.
Tire Molds
The TARUS UNIMAX series are ideal for milling engraved tire tread molds due to the universal milling head and rotary table configuration.
