Medium density Tooling board Plank designed for sheet metal stamping fixture

In today's world rapid growth of composite materials industry, polyurethane die plate is also more and more in CNC machining die and use. Polyurethane panels are superior to epoxy in many properties and can produce high precision moulds. Moulds made from polyurethane moulds remain accurate in size after many years of storage because they do not shrink over time and are not affected by moisture. In recent years, with the demand of end customers for high quality, in order to improve economic benefits, polyurethane board has become a trend. In order to greatly save cost, different products can be made at the same density, and products of this quality can also be made at the same hardness. Another trend is to use machined epoxy mould paste. It is formed by a mixture of two parts AB and 1 to 1, which is then CNC processed, and the mold paste allows the use of very low density foam to fill the plug or the mold's internal volume. The core of the foam is covered with tool paste. After curing, the epoxy shell is CNC machined to form a very dense, very durable, high-temperature mold surface that can maintain a vacuum and withstand multiple draws.

KEY PROPERTIES

1. Easy workability • High dimensional stability

2. Cost effective • Good compressive strength

3. High Temperature and chemical resistance • Large sheet sizes available

4. Smooth, non-porous surface finish • Low coefficient of thermal expansion

USES

1. Design studies

2. CNC program proving/testing.

3. Building Landscapes/Features in architectural and scenario models

4. Forming a mould tool for prototyping short runs of composite parts.

5. Use for jigs, fixtures, foundry patterns, core boxes.vacuum forming molds and all kinds of models.

How to Use

Finishing

LH651 can be cut and shaped by hand however it is a high density material and better suited to CNC machining. Once machining is complete, the board can be finished to an excellent satin finish using a range of abrasive papers, typically ranging from 400 to 1200.

Bonding

For larger patterns or more diverse shapes, it is often necessary to bond multiple boards together or to cut and join a board to produce a hollow 'rough shape' prior to machining. In this case, LH651 Epoxy Tooling Board Adhesive can be used to bond the tooling board, resulting in machinable bond-line which matches the density and behaviour of the surrounding board.

Release Preparation

Depending on the level of gloss required, once the machined board has been finished to the required standard it can either be coated directly with a suitable chemical release agent (such as Easy-Lease) or it can be first sealed using a specialist board sealer before applying release agent.

When release coating the board without first using a specialist board sealer, numerous application of release agent will be required and the gloss level attainable will be limited to a satin finish.

By using a specialist board sealer, a full gloss superior surface finish can be quickly achieved. Follow the instructions for the board sealer you are using. Easy Composites' S120 Advanced Board Sealer is recommended for sealing LH651 board and can be applied by lint-free cloth or by spray. Typically, 3-4 layers of S120 Board Sealer will provide a non-porous, hard-wearing surface for a low volume production mould. Once hardened the S120 Board Sealer finish can be flatted and polished to a high gloss.

After using a suitable board sealer, a compatible release-agent, such as Easy-Lease , is required. Release agent should be applied according to the accompanying instructions.