Find out the facts on our toolmaking and precision engineering

Toolmaking is the art of producing moulds, dies, jigs & fixtures, machine tools, cutting tools, gauges, and other tools used in the manufacturing process. At Camtech Engineering we specialise in producing the dies and moulds that produce plastic items and the punch tooling required for these metal products. Including: Plastic bottles of all types: milk, juice, soft drinks, water, oil, poisons, etc. Basic preforms from which a PET bottle is produced Plastic bottle caps Specialist medical equipment including: containers, lids, vials, etc. Thin-wall plastic containers including: ice cream tubs, lids, margarine containers, dip containers, etc. General consumer items including: baby teats, tooth brushes, plastic spoons, premix shot glasses, disposable cup holders, dosing cap, etc.

A PET mould is the metal block that produces a PET plastic bottle. PET bottles are typically see-through bottles used as containers for water, soft drinks, sports drinks, etc. A PET bottle starts out as an injection moulded preform, it is then heated and placed into a mould of the desired shape, where hot air is injected to blow the body of the preform into the shape of the final bottle.

A blow mould is the metal block that produces a HDPE Plastic Bottle. HDPE bottles are often opaque bottles which are used for packaging milk, water, detergents, oil, poison, etc. A blow mould is used in a machine that extrudes a tube of plastic called a parison. The two halves of the blow mould come together around the parison, air is then injected to blow the parison into the shape of the final bottle.

A press tool is used to punch or form a shape from thin sheets of metal and plastic. Press tools are used to produce metal cups, plates, brackets, clips, even the clip that closes the plastic bag for bread. The material is fed into a press tool where it can be pierced, drawn into a shape, bent into a form and finally, trimmed to form a finished item.

Out team offer a full range of engineering services designed to understand processing issues and then provide a complete in-house solution. Our expertise is in helping manufacturer’s improve efficiency and provide solutions that fit seamlessly into existing equipment. We pride ourselves on thinking outside the box to offer the best solution possible for each client. Some of the solutions we have provided for our clients include: slitting caps, forming cans, and optimising existing manufacturing processes.

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) is an automation process used when computers execute pre-programmed sequences of machine control commands. This allows for a precise set of complex movements for mills, lathes, or grinders to produce a shape. We have machines with full five-axis machining capabilities on mill, lathe, and precision CNC cylindrical grinders. CNC machines assist toolmakers with precision and quality.

Computer Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computer software to generate 3D models to analyse and optimise the design, before producing the drawings and manufacturing the item.

Solid Edge ® is a 3D CAD program that generates computer models to reflect the physical properties of the item which is to be manufactured. We assemble the individual items or parts where they are checked for fit and function. Solid Edge ® is produced by Siemens PLM Software and is one of the premier packages designed for mechanical engineering.

Product design is an important process in establishing a practical design that is optimised to meet the criteria for which it will be used. Many of our clients come to us to have their basic concept refined into a useable product.

Research and Development (R&D) is used to create new products and improve existing ones. Our innovative approach to problem solving has earned us a strong reputation for producing practical solutions to meet our client’s challenges.

Research and Development (R&D) is used to create new products and improve existing ones. Our innovative approach to problem solving has earned us a strong reputation for producing practical solutions to meet our client’s challenges.

Tool design is a process used to produce an item extracted from steel. We use CAD to ensure each piece that forms the tool fits perfectly to produce the final product. We use tool design on products we produce as well as products manufactured overseas.

Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) is a combination of the use of computers and specialised software to generate Numerical Control (NC) programs for mills and lathes. Using CAM software allows us to visualise and optimise our toolpaths before cutting material on the NC machine.

hyperMILL® is a high-performance CAM solution from OpenMind. hyperMILL® is a modular and flexible CAM solution for 2.5D, 3D and 5-axis milling, mill turning, and machining operations such as high-speed cutting (HSC) and high-performance cutting (HPC).

Reverse engineering is a method used to reproduce an existing item by examining its construction and composition. We typically do this by using CMM, Shadowgraph, or by manually measuring the item. Camtech Engineering can reverse engineer any mould to create an exact replica.

A Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) is used to establish where a point on an object is in 3D space. By measuring and combining a number of 3D positions it is possible to establish the shape of the object to be measured. We can accurately establish a grid over any 3D object so we can reverse engineer the shape.

A shadowgraph, also known as a profile projector, is an optical measuring instrument. It works by projecting a light source to magnify the profile of an object onto a projection screen. Using the magnified image and linear scales, it is then possible to accurately measure the profile and shape of an object.

Laser Beam Welding (LBW) is a precision welding technique used to join pieces of metal together to build up missing material. The laser beam provides a focused concentrated heat source that can be used for narrow or deep welds without heating the surrounding area. The low thermal distortion that laser beam welding incorporates enables high welding speeds for thin and small weld seams. Camtech utilises the latest generation micro welding equipment to repairing damage to existing items and for seamlessly joining components together. Laser welding can produce items that could not otherwise be manufactured using modern industrial production methods.

Laser engraving uses a laser beam to create a small concentrated point of heat that vaporises the surface of the material. It is a quick process to create a gap in the surface readily noticeable to the eye and touch. Laser engraving is typically used to engrave identifiable reference numbers on single items.

Deep hole drilling, also known as gun drilling, is a special type of long cutting drill designed to produce holes that are longer than the reach of a twist drill. A gun drill has a single effective cutting edge allowing rapid removal of material chips. Overheating is prevented by pumping coolant directly onto the drill bit.

Our fully equipped plating shop allows us to perform various plating processes including; sonic cleaning, aluminium pacifying, aluminium anodising, flash chroming, and hard chroming.

Aluminium pacifying is a chemical process used to generate a surface shell in order to provide a protective layer against corrosion.

Aluminium anodising is an electrochemical process that generates a decorative, durable surface shell which provides a protective layer against corrosion.

Flash chroming, also known as flash hard chrome plating or functional chrome plating, is an electrochemical process used to improve corrosion resistance. A thin layer of chrome is applied to provide a durable, hard wearing, low friction, corrosion resistant surface. This technique is used extensively on moving shafts, especially in areas that have critical fitment or rubbing.

Hard chroming, also known as hard chrome plating or industrial chrome plating, is an electrochemical process used when refurbishing existing shafts. Hard chroming will apply a thick layer of chrome to improve corrosion resistance. The applied new layer provides a durable, hard wearing, and low friction surface. The entire process involves grinding down the worn diameter, hard chroming the entire area, and then cylindrically grinding it back to the correct diameter.

Sonic cleaning, also known as ultrasonic cleaning, is a process that uses sound waves combined with a cleaning solution to clean an item. The soundwaves (ultrasound) resonate in the 20 – 400 kHz range. Sonic cleaning is used to eliminate all traces of contamination that adhere to an item.

Existing moulds can be refurbished to ‘as new’ condition for a fraction of the cost of a new mould. While we understand that this can affect production schedules, it is almost always a more economical option. Refurbishment can involve anything from simply swapping out guide pins and bushes to replacing all functional wearing items. Most of the cost in creating a new mould is in the steel plates that carry the load. A refurbishment on the other hand, only requires changing parts that bring the item back to a ‘new like’ status.

Our consultancy service begins with us understanding your challenges so we can formulate a tailored solution that will improve efficiency and fit seamlessly into your existing processes. We pride ourselves on thinking outside the box and offering the best solution possible.

Camtech provide a wide range of in-house engineering services along with on-site consultancy. Onsite consultations bring our experts to your location. We will travel anywhere in Australia commissioning the equipment that we supply. Many challenges our clients face relate to installing new moulds in machines, in these instances, our team can provide onsite maintenance and recalibrating. Our onsite consultant will also be able to provide technical support.