1. Importance of mold making to the quality of extruded toys

1. Importance of mold making to the quality of extruded toys

1.1 Ensure the accuracy of toy shape and size
The mold is a key tool for extruded toy molding, and its accuracy directly affects the shape and size of the toy. In the mold making process, high-precision processing equipment and strict quality control standards can ensure that the shape and size of the mold are highly consistent with the design drawings. For example, using computer numerical control (CNC) processing technology, the processing accuracy can reach ±0.01mm, which makes the extruded toys regular in shape and accurate in size. According to relevant research data, the dimensional deviation rate of extruded toys made with high-precision molds can be controlled within 1%, while the dimensional deviation rate of toys made with low-precision molds may be as high as 5%. This high-precision mold making not only ensures the beauty of the toy’s appearance, but also provides a basis for the subsequent assembly and function realization of the toy, avoiding problems such as assembly difficulties or functional failures caused by dimensional deviations.

2. Influence on the surface quality of toys

2.1 Surface finish
The surface quality of the mold plays a decisive role in the surface finish of the extruded toy. High-quality molds are finely polished to make the surface of the extruded toy smooth and delicate. For example, molds using EDM and mirror polishing technology can make the surface finish of toys reach mirror effect, and the surface roughness can be controlled below Ra0.01. Studies have shown that the surface finish score of squeeze toys made with such high-finish molds is more than 30% higher than that of toys made with ordinary molds. Surface finish not only affects the appearance of toys, but also reduces the adhesion of dust and stains, facilitates cleaning and maintenance, and extends the service life of toys.
2.2 Accurate presentation of texture and pattern
The design and production accuracy of the mold directly affects the presentation effect of the surface texture and pattern of squeeze toys. Through high-precision engraving and etching technology, complex textures and exquisite patterns can be produced on the surface of the mold. For example, using laser engraving technology, pattern engraving with an accuracy of up to 0.005mm can be achieved, ensuring that the texture and pattern on the surface of the toy are clear and realistic. According to market research data, squeeze toys with exquisite textures and patterns are 40% more popular among consumers than ordinary toys. In addition, precise mold making can also ensure the consistency of textures and patterns in mass production, avoid pattern deformation or blurring caused by mold errors, and thus improve the overall quality and market competitiveness of toys.

3. Determine the structural integrity of toys

3.1 Avoid defects and flaws
The precision of mold making is crucial to the structural integrity of extruded toys, and can effectively avoid defects and flaws inside and on the surface of toys. In the mold design stage, by simulating and optimizing the mold structure with precise computer-aided design (CAD) software, potential problems such as insufficient filling, bubbles, and shrinkage holes can be discovered and solved in advance. For example, the use of advanced simulation software for fluid dynamics analysis can predict the flow state of plastic melt in the mold, thereby optimizing the design of the mold’s gating system and exhaust system. Relevant experimental data show that the internal defect rate of extruded toys made with optimized molds can be reduced to less than 2%, while the internal defect rate of toys made with unoptimized molds may be as high as 10%. In addition, the manufacturing accuracy of the mold will also affect the defects on the surface of the toy. High-precision mold processing can ensure that the mold surface is smooth and flawless, avoiding scratches, dents, and other problems on the toy surface caused by mold surface defects during the extrusion process. According to the quality inspection report, the surface defect rate of squeeze toys made with high-precision molds is only 1%, which is much lower than the surface defect rate of toys made with low-precision molds of 10%.
3.2 Ensure the firmness of the connection parts
Mold making plays a decisive role in the firmness of the connection parts of squeeze toys. In toy design, many squeeze toys need to connect multiple parts to achieve their functions and structural integrity. The design and manufacturing accuracy of the mold can ensure the dimensional accuracy and matching accuracy of these connection parts. For example, through high-precision mold processing, the matching clearance of the connection parts can be controlled within ±0.02mm, thereby ensuring a close fit between the parts. Relevant research data show that the tensile strength of the connection parts of squeeze toys made with high-precision molds is more than 20% higher than that of toys made with ordinary molds. In addition, the structural design of the mold will also affect the firmness of the connection parts. Reasonable mold structure design can ensure that the plastic melt is fully filled and evenly distributed in the connection parts, avoiding insufficient strength of the connection parts due to insufficient filling or uneven distribution. For example, when designing the mold, the use of reasonable runner and gate design can make the plastic melt form a good weld line at the connection part and enhance the strength of the connection part. According to actual test data, the tensile strength of the connection part of the extruded toy made by the optimized mold can reach 50N/cm², which is much higher than the tensile strength of the connection part of the toy made by the ordinary mold 30N/cm².

4. Impact on production efficiency and cost

4.1 Improve production efficiency
The precision and quality of mold making have a significant effect on improving the production efficiency of extruded toys. High-precision molds can ensure that the flow of plastic melt in the mold is smoother and reduce the filling time. For example, the use of advanced mold design and manufacturing technology can shorten the filling time of plastic melt by about 20%. At the same time, high-quality molds can reduce the number of downtime maintenance caused by mold defects. According to relevant enterprise data, the production line using high-precision molds has about 30% less downtime due to mold problems than the production line using ordinary molds. In addition, the durability of the mold will also affect production efficiency. High-precision molds are treated with special materials and processes, have a longer service life, and can operate stably for a long time. For example, the service life of a mold that has been surface hardened can be extended to more than three times that of an ordinary mold, reducing the frequency of mold replacement and thus improving production efficiency.
4.2 Reduce production costs
In the production process of extruded toys, mold making plays a key role in reducing production costs. High-precision molds can reduce the waste of raw materials. Because they can ensure the shape and size accuracy of toys, the utilization rate of raw materials is higher. Relevant research data show that in the production process using high-precision molds, the rate of raw material waste can be reduced to less than 5%, while the rate of raw material waste of low-precision molds may be as high as 15%. In addition, the durability of the mold can also reduce production costs. High-precision molds have a long service life and reduce the cost of mold replacement and maintenance. According to enterprise cost accounting data, the production cost of using high-precision molds is about 25% lower than that of using ordinary molds. At the same time, high-precision molds can improve product quality and reduce the defective rate. High-quality molds can avoid defects and flaws in toys, thereby reducing the defective rate. According to the quality inspection report, the defective rate of extruded toys made with high-precision molds is only 2%, which is much lower than the 10% defective rate of toys made with low-precision molds. This not only reduces the waste of raw materials, but also reduces the additional costs caused by the handling of defective products, thereby effectively reducing production costs.

5. Summary
Mold making plays a vital role in the quality of extruded toys, and its importance runs through all aspects of toy production.
From the perspective of ensuring the shape and size accuracy of toys, the application of high-precision mold processing technology, such as computer numerical control (CNC) processing, can control the size deviation rate within 1%, while low-precision molds may be as high as 5%. This not only ensures the beauty of the toy’s appearance, but also provides a basis for subsequent assembly and function realization, avoiding problems such as assembly difficulties or functional failures caused by size deviations.
In terms of affecting the surface quality of toys, high-quality molds are finely polished, such as using electrospark machining and mirror polishing technology, which can make the surface finish of the toy reach a mirror effect, and the surface roughness is controlled below Ra0.01. Its surface finish score is more than 30% higher than that of ordinary molds. At the same time, high-precision engraving and etching technologies, such as laser engraving, can achieve pattern engraving with an accuracy of up to 0.005mm, ensuring that the surface texture and pattern of the toy are clear and realistic, and enhancing the market competitiveness of the toy.
For the structural integrity of the toy, the fineness of mold making can effectively avoid defects and flaws inside and on the surface of the toy. Through precise computer-aided design (CAD) software simulation and optimization of the mold structure, the internal defect rate can be reduced to less than 2%, while unoptimized molds may be as high as 10%. In addition, high-precision mold processing can also ensure the dimensional accuracy and matching accuracy of the connection parts, making the tensile strength of the connection parts more than 20% higher than that of ordinary molds, and enhancing the structural stability of the toy.
In terms of production efficiency and cost, high-precision molds can shorten the plastic melt filling time by about 20%, reduce the number of downtime repairs caused by mold defects by about 30%, and extend the service life to more than 3 times that of ordinary molds, significantly improving production efficiency. At the same time, high-precision molds can reduce the waste rate of raw materials to less than 5%, reduce mold replacement and maintenance costs, reduce the defective rate to 2%, and effectively reduce production costs by about 25%.

In summary, the precision and quality of mold making have a profound impact on the shape, size, surface quality, structural integrity, production efficiency and cost of squeeze toys. High-precision mold making can significantly improve the overall quality of squeeze toys, enhance market competitiveness, while improving production efficiency and reducing production costs, providing a strong guarantee for the sustainable development of the toy manufacturing industry.