Typical lifespan based on steel type
Standard tool steel (e.g., P20): Lifespan of approximately 500,000–1,000,000 cycles; commonly used for molds producing consumer goods with lower volume requirements.
Pre-hardened steel (e.g., 718H): Lifespan of up to 2,000,000–3,000,000 cycles; the mainstream choice for medium-volume production molds.
Powder metallurgy steel (e.g., ASP-60): Lifespan exceeding 5,000,000 cycles; suitable for high-volume production and applications requiring high wear resistance.
Key factors affecting actual lifespan
Material properties: Plastics containing glass fiber have a wear rate 8–10 times higher than standard ABS, significantly accelerating cavity wear.
Surface treatment: Chrome plating or nitriding can extend mold lifespan by 30%–50%; tungsten carbide coating offers three times the lifespan of untreated molds in glass-fiber molding applications.
Usage and maintenance: Exceeding recommended injection molding temperatures by 10% can reduce mold lifespan by 15%–25%; regular cleaning every 50,000 cycles minimizes corrosion from residue and extends lifespan by 30%.
