Plastic Injection Mold Set Up Technician

Mold & Machine Setup

• Perform mold changes on injection molding machines safely and efficiently.
• Set up and prepare Niigata and Toyo injection molding machines for production.
• Install and properly secure molds, including connecting water lines, hot runners, hydraulics, and other required connections.
• Set and verify machine parameters based on setup sheets, work instructions, and established process standards.
• Set barrel and mold temperatures, injection speeds, pressures, screw speeds, back pressure, cooling time, and other process parameters.
• Set up and verify auxiliary equipment including dryers, loaders, chillers, temperature controllers, granulators, robots, and material handling equipment.
• Verify the correct mold, material, color, inserts, and production components before starting a job.
• Ensure all machine, mold, and auxiliary equipment connections are properly installed before startup.

Machine Startup & Process Setup

• Bring injection molding machines from startup to stable production conditions.
• Purge and prepare machines for production as required.
• Establish the proper molding process and make adjustments to achieve consistent, quality parts.
• Run initial samples after mold changes and make necessary process adjustments.
• Verify that parts meet established quality, dimensional, and appearance requirements before releasing the machine to production.
• Monitor machine operation during startup and throughout the production run.
• Ensure machine settings are documented and maintained according to company standards.

Troubleshooting

• Troubleshoot injection molding machines, molds, materials, and auxiliary equipment.
• Diagnose and correct molding defects including:
• Short shots
• Flash
• Sink marks
• Warpage
• Burn marks
• Splay
• Weld lines
• Flow marks
• Discoloration
• Dimensional variation
• Part sticking
• Inconsistent filling
• Determine whether problems are related to machine settings, mold conditions, material, temperature, cooling, or equipment .
• Make appropriate process adjustments to correct problems while maintaining part quality and cycle-time requirements.
• Troubleshoot machine alarms and production interruptions.
• Identify mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical issues and determine when Maintenance support is required.
• Work with Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Production to resolve recurring problems.
• Help identify root causes and implement solutions that prevent repeat issues.

Production Support

• Support production operators after setup and ensure they have a properly running process.
• Respond to machine and process problems throughout the shift.
• Minimize machine downtime, scrap, and production interruptions.
• Monitor cycle times and process consistency.
• Assist with mold changes and job changes as production schedules require.
• Help maintain efficient production while meeting quality and safety requirements.
• Communicate machine, mold, material, and process issues to the appropriate Supervisor or Manager.

Quality & Documentation

• Follow setup sheets, process instructions,

and documenting setup parameters and process changes.