Steel-Based Auto Lamp Mould | Durable 2316 Mould Steel & Chrome Plating

Product Specifications

Steel-Based Auto Lamp Mould: 2316 Steel + Chrome Plating for Durability & Precision

Core Service/Product Parameters Comparison

Key Advantages: 2316 Steel + Chrome Plating for Auto Lamp Excellence

1. 2316 Mould Steel: The Foundation of Corrosion & Precision

• Superior Corrosion Resistance: 13–17% chromium content prevents chemical attack from PC/PMMA resins—especially critical for PC, which hydrolyzes (releases moisture) at high injection temperatures (280–320℃). Unlike standard H13 steel (prone to rust in 50,000+ cycles), 2316 steel maintains a rust-free cavity for 600,000+ cycles, avoiding light-scattering defects (e.g., micro-pits on lens surfaces).
• Optical-Grade Polishability: 2316 steel’s low carbon content (≤0.25%) enables mirror-like polishing (Ra ≤0.01μm pre-plating)—essential for headlight lenses (need clear light transmission ≥90%) and taillight reflectors (require high reflectivity ≥95%). This polishability also ensures precise replication of micro-textures (e.g., 10μm diffusion dots for taillights).
• Toughness for High-Volume Production: Heat-treated to 48–52 HRC, 2316 steel balances hardness and toughness—resisting chipping from ejection forces (common in thin-walled lamp parts, 0.8–2mm thickness) and maintaining dimensional stability under repeated thermal cycling (injection cooling → heating).

2. Chrome Plating: Enhancing Wear & Release Performance

• Extreme Wear Resistance: With HV 800–1000 hardness (2x harder than 2316 steel), chrome plating withstands abrasive additives in glass-reinforced PC (used for high-strength lamp housings). This extends mould cavity life by 40% vs. unplated steel, reducing maintenance costs for mass production.
• Easy Resin Release: Chrome’s low surface energy (0.03 N/m) minimizes resin adhesion—critical for sticky resins like PMMA, which often sticks to unplated steel and causes part damage during demolding. Plated moulds reduce ejection force by 60%, cutting scrap rate to ≤0.2%.
• Extra Corrosion Barrier: While 2316 steel is corrosion-resistant, chrome plating adds a secondary layer that survives 1000-hour salt spray testing (ISO 9227)—ideal for moulds used in humid production environments or for lamps with outdoor exposure (e.g., fog lights).

3. Auto Lamp-Specific Optimization

• Headlight Lenses: 2316 steel’s polishability + chrome plating’s smoothness ensure Ra ≤0.008μm surface finish—eliminating light scattering and meeting ECE R112 beam pattern standards (no glare for oncoming drivers).
• Taillight Diffusers: 2316 steel’s dimensional stability (±0.005mm tolerance) ensures uniform replication of 10–15μm diffusion textures, delivering consistent red/amber light (no "hot spots") that complies with SAE J578.
• Fog Light Housings: 2316 steel’s corrosion resistance + chrome plating’s wear resistance handle glass-reinforced PC (30% GF) and high injection pressures (1500–2000 bar), maintaining housing integrity for 600,000+ cycles.

Application Scenarios by Auto Lamp Type

Our Service Process for 2316 Steel + Chrome Plating Auto Lamp Moulds

1. Lamp Design Collaboration: Work with your engineering team to review lamp 3D models (STEP/IGES), define optical requirements (beam pattern, diffusion), and select 2316 steel grade (standard vs. modified for high polish). Provide DFM analysis to optimize cavity geometry (e.g., adding draft angles for easy release).
2. Mould Fabrication & Plating: Machine 2316 steel cavities with CNC mills (accuracy ±0.001mm); polish to Ra ≤0.01μm; apply RoHS-compliant chrome plating (5–10μm) and post-plate polish to Ra ≤0.008μm.
3. Prototype Testing: Build 1-cavity prototype mould in 14–18 days; conduct test injections with your target resin (PC/PMMA). Validate dimensional accuracy (CMM), texture replication (3D confocal scanning), and lighting performance (goniophotometer).
4. Mass Production Mould: Scale to multi-cavity moulds (2–8 cavities) for high-volume needs. Conduct 100% mould inspection (Zeiss CMM, chrome thickness testing) and provide material certificates (2316 steel mill certs, plating test reports).
5. Lifecycle Support: Offer 1-year warranty for mould defects; provide maintenance guidelines (chrome touch-up, cavity cleaning) to extend mould life to 600,000+ cycles.

Quality Assurance

• Material Testing: Verify 2316 steel composition (ICP-MS) and hardness (Rockwell tester); test chrome plating thickness (eddy current tester) and adhesion .
• Optical & Dimensional Inspection: Use Zeiss CMM (±0.0005mm) for cavity tolerance checks; 3D confocal scanners (0.1μm resolution) for texture replication; goniophotometers to validate lamp light distribution.