Glossary of industry terms I to L
Indexing - The movement from one station on the rotomoulding machine to another. On a fixed arm (or turret) design of machine all of the arms move together, the tools in the service station moving to the oven, the tools in the oven moving to the cooling station, the tools in the cooling station moving to the service station. On an independent arm machine the process is similar but each arm moves when the control system determines, this may not be at the same time as the other arms. Machines of this type are configured with more stations than arms to allow this independent movement.
Impregnation - The process of filling voids in a material which has a tendency to be porous, such as cast aluminium, to prevent evidence of the porosity showing on the moulding.
Induction time - The portion of the heating cycle from the beginning of the oven cycle to when powder starts to fuse to the inside mould surface.
Inert gas injection (gas injection) - The use of an inert gas pumped through the arm of the moulding machine and into the mould tool to remove air and therefore prevent certain moulding materials reacting with oxygen during the moulding cycle. This allows otherwise unmouldable materials to be moulded successfully and can also improve the mechanical properties of others.
Insert - 1. A metal (or other material) component moulded into a moulding for example a metal threaded nut.
2. A part of a mould which is removed prior to part de-moulding normally forming an undercut in the moulding that would prevent it from being pulled out.
Insert holder - An attachment on the inside or outside of a mould tool which secures an insert in place during the moulding cycle.
Ionised cleaning - The use of ionised air to reduce static and therefore static 'cling' during cleaning.
Jack nut - A commonly used insert for secondary finishing operations giving good torque and pull out resistance.
J bolt - a type of bolt used to receive a clamp fitted to mating part of the tool.
Jig - Term used for an item fitted to a moulding to allow manual machining of post-moulding trim details such as routed apertures, drilled holes, etc.
Kiss point (kiss-off) - 1. Internal circular protrusions in a mould which, when the mould is assembled, come together at a dimension less than twice the thickness of the moulding.
2. The feature created in the moulding by the use of 1.
Kiss strip (kiss-off strip) - 1. Internal strip protrusions in a mould which, when the mould is assembled, come together at a dimension less than twice the thickness of the moulding.
2. The feature created in the moulding by the use of 1.
Knife edge - A detail in a mould tool that allows for easier removal of a scrap area by producing a thinner wall section around its periphery.
Label area (decal panel) - A special surface designed into a part on which to apply a label. This commonly requires a textured mould to have a smooth surface in that area.
Laser marking - A method used to apply primarily sequential identification numbers to mouldings.
Leonardo machine - A design of machine which is automatic (no machine operator is required as such) and which uses oil running through channels on the mould tool to heat and then cool the tool and therefore melt and solidify the polymer.
Lever area (lever point, pry point) - an area of the frame or tool to help the opening of the mould tool by allow leverage to be applied.
Lift - the production of a moulding or mouldings from one arm of a moulding machine.
Lift rings (lift hooks) - Attachments on a mould or mould frame for attaching a hoist and help with mould opening.
Logo area - An area of the mould tool into which mirror image letters, numbers, or graphics are cast or engraved to provide product branding, identification, instruction, etc.
Logo block - A removable logo area of the mould tool to allow the logo to be interchanged normally for alternative product branding.
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