摘要 |
An apparatus and electro-discharge machining method for making fastener-shaped mold surfaces in mold plates for making a mold for molding a fastener product having an array of fastener elements. An electro-discharge is created between an electrode and a stack of sheet-form blanks of plate material such that material is removed from the blanks to produce mold plates, each mold plate having a series of fastener element-shaped mold surfaces extending inwardly from an outer edge of the plate. Extremely small tip radii (e.g., less than 0.001 inch) can be produced with the invention. Since a multitude of finished mold plates can be formed at once, the invention is extremely cost effective in producing mold plates with accurately-formed mold surfaces. |