In a broad sense, "automotive mold" is a general term for molds used to manufacture all parts on automobiles. For example, injection molds, stamping molds, forging molds, casting wax molds, glass molds, etc. When people talk about cars, the first thing that appears to them is the body of the car. In other words, the body is the car's signature assembly. The body represents the image of that car. In a narrow sense, an automobile mold is a general term for a mold for punching all stamping parts on an automobile body. It is also called "Auto Body Stamping Die". For example, the top cover flanging mold, the cross beam reinforcement plate forming mold, etc.
There are many ways to classify automotive plastic molds. According to the different methods of forming plastic parts, they can be divided into the following categories:

1. Injection Mold

Injection mold is also called injection mold. The molding process of this mold is characterized by placing plastic raw materials in the heating barrel of the injection machine. The plastic is melted by heat, and driven by the screw or plunger of the injection machine, it enters the mold cavity through the nozzle and the casting system of the mold, and the plastic is molded in the mold cavity by heat preservation, pressure holding, cooling and solidification. Because the heating and pressing device can function in stages, injection molding can not only form plastic parts with complex shapes, but also have high production efficiency and good quality. Therefore, injection molding occupies a large proportion in the molding of plastic parts, and injection molds account for more than half of plastic molding molds. The injection machine is mainly used for the molding of thermoplastics, and in recent years it has also been gradually used for the molding of thermosetting plastics.

2. Compression mode

Compression mold is also called pressing mold or rubber mold. The molding process of this mold is characterized by adding plastic raw materials directly into the open mold cavity and then closing the mold. After the plastic is molten under the action of heat and pressure, the mold cavity is filled with a certain pressure. At this time, the molecular structure of the plastic produces a chemical cross-linking reaction, which gradually hardens and sets. Compression molds are mostly used for thermosetting plastics, and most of the molded plastic parts are used in the shell of electrical switches and daily necessities.

3. Transfer mode

The transfer mold is also called pressure injection mold or extrusion mold. The molding process of this mold is characterized by adding plastic raw materials into the preheated charging chamber, and then pressing the column to apply pressure to the plastic raw materials in the charging chamber. The plastic melts under high temperature and pressure and enters the cavity through the mold pouring system, and then Chemical crosslinking occurs and gradually solidifies. The transfer molding process is mostly used for thermosetting plastics, which can form plastic parts with relatively complicated shapes.

4. Extrusion die

The extrusion die is also called extruder head. This mold can continuously produce plastics with the same cross-sectional shape, such as plastic pipes, rods, sheets, etc. The device for heating and pressurizing the extruder is the same as the device for the injection machine. The molten plastic passes through the machine head to form continuous molded plastic parts, and the production efficiency is particularly high.

In addition to the types of plastic molds listed above, there are vacuum forming molds, compressed air molds, blow molding molds, and low foam plastic molds.