RUNNERS AND

GATES

Information contained in this presentation is to be used by Seneca College Students while

registered at the College Only and can not be reproduced.
All injection mould (plastic and die-cast)
have Runners.

A runner is a channel which connects the

gate(s) of a mould to the sprue.

A runner is a channel which connects the

gate(s) of a mould to the sprue.
When ever possible runners should be:
1. as short as possible
2. have the same length for multi-runner

Runners should always be radially spaced

leading from the sprue.

Branch runners are employed when it is

impossible to generate a ideal runner
http://www.injectionplasticmold.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/naturally_balanced_runner6.gif
Runners must always be polished.

Why is polishing important on the runner

if the runner (cold) is always trimmed off.

Runner should always be as small as

possible. Why?

Runners must be large enough to carry

sufficient material to the cavity of the
mould.
The two most frequently used runner
shapes are:
1. trapezoidal
2. round

http://www.injectionplasticmold.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/cross_sectional_runner_p1_6.gif
Trapezoidal:
+ve. Easy to machine
-ve. Increased surface friction

Round:
+ve. Reduced surface friction
Increased volume
-ve. Difficult to machine into both sides
of the mould
Gate:
The narrow and shallow portion of the
runner as it enters the cavity.
It is important that gates be located
where they are easily trimmed and not
easily seen on the finished product.

Gates should be located so that the

flowing material hits what?

The opposing surface as soon as possible

after entry into the cavity.
Note, material entering into: thick
section, ribs, parallel wall sections or any
open area will result in visible shrinkage
marks on the finished product.

Gates are made as small as possible.

Small gates facilitate the removal of the
piece part from the runner and sprue.
Small gates also promote proper flow of
molten material prevent strains and weld
marks.

Weld marks normally result from poor

gating and venting. What is a weld mark?
http://www.injectionplasticmold.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/cross_sectional_runner_p1_6.gif
For asymmetrical mould gravities designers
cannot rely on radially spaced runners and
gate.

Designers must make changes to the gates

to allow the cavities to fill uniformly.

How do you think this is achieved?

Cold Slug Well

When material is injected into the mould

the leading of the injected material is
somewhat cooler.

Why is this a problem?

Cold Slug well is located opposite the sprue

to trap this cooler material allowing the
hotter material to fill the cavity of the
mould.
Cold Slug wells are also found at the end of
branch runners.
Sprue Puller

An undercut is normally machined into

either the cold slug well or the ejector pin
immediately under the cold slug.

What is the purpose of this undercut?

This undercut will pull the sprue out of the

sprue bushing, thus allowing the mould to
cycle again.
http://www.globalspec.com/reference/50137/203279/Chapter-17-Runner-and-Gate-Design
Fan gate:

A fan gate is used with acrylic material. This

type of gate improves the flow of acrylic
material by spreading the material into the
cavity.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oF_1Qcfku_w/SAjITuV5_AI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/VzC1438MwW8/s400/faN%2BGA
T3%2Bcopy.jpg
Ring gate:

This type of gate is used to feed material

into long cylindrical parts with thin wall
section.

http://www.injectionplasticmold.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/internal_ring_gate6.gif
Disc gate:

The disc gate is

used to fill a cavity
from a hold
located inside the
part. The material
from the sprue
spreads out evenly
and all sections of
the cavity are filled http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oF_1Qcfku_w/SDBDRVUq8YI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/ZnqIINQzXdI/s400/disc-gate.jpg

simultaneously.
Direct gate:

This gate allows the injected material to flow

from the sprue directly into the cavity.
Tab gate:

This type of gate

generates a better
flow pattern by
having the tab take
up any strains and
imperfections in the
flowing material.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oF_1Qcfku_w/R--s2bvduCI/AAAAAAAAAcw/SiRdaYQC-jc/s400/tab-gate3.jpg
Pin point gate:

The pin point

gate is generally
used in three
plate mould
construction with
multiple cavities
and having
trapezoidal
runner.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oF_1Qcfku_w/RuVaduEmQgI/AAAAAAAAAHY/RuJ1kQH7wPc/s400/mold.gif
Tunnel or Submarine gate:

There are many advantages to using the tunnel

gate. The gate is sheared off as the piece is
ejected from the mould. The gate does not have
to be located on the parting line and it is
possible to gate on boss/deep sections of the
mould. Venting is often not a problem because
the cavity fills from the bottom up-thus allowing
the cavity to vent at the parting-line.
 Tunnel or Submarine gate cont’d

Tunnel gates very in diameter from .020”-.050”

and have a land approximately .040”.

http://www.rtpcompany.com/info/molding/design/graphics/tunnelgate.gif
Overflow well

If the part design causes problems of weld lines,

an overflow will is provided. The overflow well
is generally located opposite the gate.
Venting:

All plastic mould must be vented. Venting is

achieved by machining vent grooves into the
cavity at the parting line which will carry the
gases out the side of the mould. These vent
grooves are approximately .005” deep and 1/8”
to 1/4” wide and are located opposite the gate.
Venting cont’d
Injection mould are vented to get rid of any air
that might be trapped in the cavity by the
flowing material. In addition to vents, air in
injection mould escapes around ejector pins,
loaded inserts, and at the parting line.

A properly vented mould will prevent

incomplete piece parts, burn spots on the part,
and will produce excellent weld.
Slides:

Slides are used

to produce
undercuts on
moulded
parts.
SIDE OPEN POSITION SLIDE IN CLOSED POSITION
 HORN PINS/LOCKING PINS

Horn pins are used to move a slide backwards and

forward and to also lock the slide in position when
material is injected in to the mould cavity. If a slide
moves backwards; this movement is called blowback.
 Slide Movement
Which method of moving a slide do
you think is cheapest to incorporate
in your mold design?
Regardless of the movement method
used all slides and core-pull must be
designed with a housing.
What is a housing? And what is its
purpose?
• There are two components
which make up a slide housing.
• Back plate
• Side plates
• Slides must also have carriers.
• The carrier allows for attachment of the
slide insert.
• The carrier must have guide pin bushing
and dowel pins to allow for proper
alignment of the slide to the mold.
 Wear Plates
What is a wear plate?
Where is a wear plate located?
It is always important to use as hard a steel as
possible when designing a wear plate.
The designer must never use the same
hardness on both members rubbing against
each other.
Also the alloys used might also affect how the
mold functions.
• When ever possible a wear plate
should always be designed with
lubrication in mind.
– Grease grooves
• The fit of a wear plate is also
critical to the function of a mold
– Size of the wear plate
– The ride-height of the wear plate
• The surface of the wear plate is
also very important
– The attachment method used
– Surface finish of the wear plate