After heat treatment, the mold components become very hard, making conventional cutting difficult. This is where precision machining comes in, primarily relying on CNC machining centers and electrical discharge machining (EDM).
CNC machining centers are the well-known mainstay of precision mold machining. Operators import 3D design data into the machine tool, which, under computer program control, automatically uses various cutting tools to perform precision milling, drilling, tapping, and other operations on the hardened steel. The complex curved surfaces, reinforcing ribs, and threads inside plastic bucket molds are all "carved" using CNC. The machining accuracy can reach the micron level, ensuring the precise dimensions of the mold cavity.