SPI Mold Classifications:
The American Plastic Industry Institute (SPI AN-102-78) divides molds into five categories. These five types of molds have different requirements and standards, and this mold classification is only applicable to molds equipped with injection molding machines of 400 tons or less.
plastic injection mold
SPI Class 101 Molds:
(Rated for one million or more cycles) Mold design required. Mold base should be a minimum hardness of 280 BHN. Molding surfaces (cavities and cores) must be hardened to a minimum of 48 RC. All other details such as slides heel blocks gibs wedge blocks etc. should also be of hardened tool steels. Ejection should be guided. Slides must have wear plates. Temperature control provisions to be in cavities cores and slides wherever possible. Over the life of the mold corrosion in the cooling channels decreases cooling efficiency thus degrading part quality and increasing cycle time. It is therefore recommended that plates or inserts containing cooling channels be of a corrosive resistant material or treated to prevent corrosion. Parting line locks are required on all molds.
SPI Class 102 Molds:
(Rated for no more than one million cycles) Molds design required. This mold is identical to the type 101 with the following items not required: guided ejection hardened slide wear plates plated water channels and wear plated cavities. All other extras are optional. This tool is a medium to high production tool that is good for abrasive materials and / or close tolerance products.
SPI Class 103 Molds:
(Rated for under 500000 cycles) Mold design recommended. Mold base should be a minimum hardness of 165 BHN. Cores and cavities must be 280 BHN or higher. All other extras optional.
SPI Class 104 Molds:
(Rated for under 100000 cycles) Mold design recommended. Mold base can be of mild steel or aluminum. Cores and cavities can be of aluminum mild steel or any other agreed upon metal. All other extras optional.
SPI Class 105 Molds: (Rated for no more than 500 cycles) The mold base may be constructed from cast metal or epoxy or any other material offering sufficient strength to produce the minimum prototype pieces. This tool is only for prototype purposes only. All other extras are optional.
