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Copper, a favorite of the wire and cable industry, possesses excellent electrical conductivity and finds widespread use as an electrical conductor in everyday wire and cable products. Copper has even become the world’s third most widely used metal. Due to a number of influencing factors, including demand, the price of copper has risen dramatically over the past few years.

Concerns with copper are not isolated to the U.S., but have developed into an international concern across a number of markets. Since the price of copper directly affects the price of electrical wire and cable, those involved in the industry, suppliers and customers alike, are affected by any fluctuation in copper prices.

In order to closely follow changes, the wire and cable industry looks to outside sources for accurate pricing information. The two primary indexes used in determining the cost of copper industry have been the COMEX Copper Index and the Omega-Camden Copper Index. Although the two differ slightly, both indexes continually remain reliable resources.

You may have read about COMEX copper prices in national publications such as the New York Times or American Metal Market. Lines like, “Copper prices rise on the COMEX Division of the Mercantile Exchange,” are not uncommon. The COMEX (Commodities Exchange) draws public attention as a division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), which is a worldwide physical commodity futures exchange. In the COMEX Division, metals like gold, silver and high-grade copper futures are traded.

COMEX manages the trading of copper as a commodity with commercial value by means of a daily settlement price. The prices are recorded on the COMEX Copper Index, which keeps track of all settlement prices. Copper futures on the COMEX Division are used by copper market participants for investment purposes. The future prices listed on the index reflect where copper prices appear to be headed based on the present opinion of the marketplace. The opinions and direction of the prices on the index can change abruptly.

Like the COMEX Copper Index, the Omega-Camden Copper Index plays a role in determining the cost of copper in the wire and cable industry. The Omega-Camden copper base, formerly known as the Camden copper base, is a point of reference for wire and cable prices. The Omega-Camden Index records and measures whether copper prices are increasing or decreasing. The Omega-Camden copper index is supplied by International Wire (IMG), whose products include a broad range of copper wire.

Unlike the daily changes of the COMEX Copper Index, the Omega-Camden Index is only updated twice a month. Another difference is that prices on the Omega-Camden copper index take into consideration transportation costs. The Omega-Camden base may be fifteen to twenty cents higher per pound than COMEX prices as a result of the added cost. COMEX’s copper price reflects only the price as produced at the mine. It does not include additional production costs.

With the current volatility of prices, the COMEX and Omega-Camden Copper Indexes have become valuable tools to the wire and cable industry. COMEX is helpful because it is updated on a daily basis and predicts future prices. The Omega-Camden Index is useful because it considers added costs. Both provide a deeper understanding of one of the industry’s biggest concerns - the ever-fluctuating cost of copper.

For more information on Copper, please visit Allied Wire and Cable, Inc.

For more information on COMEX, visit http://www.nymex.com

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Injection mold prototypes fulfill a number of needs in the plastic injection molding process. Inventors, industrial designers, manufacturers and others are constantly seeking ways to develop new products in a short time span.

Who needs prototype injection molds?

Perhaps it is the need for speed that drives you to having an injection mold prototype built. You might want to beat the competition to the marketplace and don’t have time for a hardened production tool.

You might also need to see how various components of an assembly actually fit and function; an injection mold prototype is perfect.

You can quickly and relatively inexpensively have an injection mold maker build a prototype. Most prototypes last a lot longer than they are guaranteed to, so you might even get some short production out of the deal!

What types of injection mold prototypes are there?

You can get a prototype built out of aluminum, pre-hardened steel or even non-metallic composites. Each has their advantage and special features. Aluminum is the most common material used in prototypes because it is very easy to machine, yet is able to withstand the injection molding process.

There are several mold grades of aluminum commonly used, such as Alcoa’s QC-10. This is a remarkable material in that it is relatively hard, able to be machined in great detail, and is 4 times more conductive than steel. This conductivity can help reduce cycle times in molding.

Aluminum, such as QC-10 can be CNC machined, WEDM’d, sinker EDM’d and highly polished. About the only thing it cannot do is last as long as steel. A bit more care must be taken when working with it as well, due to the fact that it is still aluminum, not steel!

Another common choice for injection mold prototypes is pre-hardened steel, such as P-20 or PX-5. These, and others steels, are widely used if a higher production is required, or there are fine details that exceed the ability of the aluminum to be machined.

These steels are also fairly easy to machine, especially PX-5. This steel is harder than P-20, but easier to machine and polishes better as well. There are two other pre-hardened steels that are often used: NAK-55 and NAK-80. These steels are excellent, especially when there is a need for polishing. Many prototype injection molds have produced far more high quality parts than expected, and the quality of the material is a major reason.

How long does it take to get a prototype injection mold?

Naturally this depends on your pocketbook! It is not uncommon to get a quality prototype in 1-4 weeks. Of course, the more complicated you design, the longer it will take. Most injection mold makers can deliver very quickly, especially for a premium.

What are some tips to succeed with prototypes?

Work with the injection mold designer and injection mold maker to make your part as easy to produce as possible. This will speed things up dramatically and reduce your expense. Undercuts, side actions, lifters and such add to the cost exponentially. Often it is possible to achieve the desired part without having necessarily all the features that the final product might contain.

Randy Hough has worked as a plastic injection mold maker since 1978. He heads a group of industry professionals who have a web site dedicated to injection mold making. You can learn the latest trends and techniques by visiting http://www.global-plastic-injection-molding.com They also have an interactive blog, which is frequently updated. Learn how to make a plastic injection mold, mold design, about jobs in the plastic industry and more.

“You know Dad, I’ve been thinkin’, one is a lot more than zero!” my son, Thomas, age 5.

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