Method for employing quick change injection molding tooling

1. A method comprising:

loading a tooling module onto a module carrier unit;

inserting the module carrier unit into a molding press so that the carrier unit rests on at least one tie bar of an injection molding press; and

closing the molding press until the tooling module is mated to an ejection side of a mold base.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein loading the tooling module comprises:

removing the tooling module from a carrier cart.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

moving the module carrier unit from the carrier cart to the molding press using an overhead crane.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

opening the molding press before inserting the module carrier unit.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

unlocking the tooling module from the module carrier unit;

opening the molding press; and

removing the module carrier unit from the molding press.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

placing the module carrier unit on a carrier cart.

7. A method comprising:

locking a tooling module onto a module carrier unit with one or more air locks;

inserting the module carrier unit into a molding press so that the carrier unit rests on a supporting member of an injection molding press; and

closing the molding press until the tooling module is mated to an ejection side of a mold base.

8. A method comprising:

loading a tooling module onto a module carrier unit;

inserting the module carrier unit into a molding press so that the carrier unit rests on a supporting member of an injection molding press;

closing the molding press until the tooling module is mated to an ejection side of a mold base;

unlocking the tooling module from the module carrier unit;

opening the molding press;

removing the module carrier unit from the molding press;

closing the molding press so that the tooling module is mated to an injection side of the mold base;

inserting a thread-molding core into the tooling module;

extruding moldable material into the tooling module from the injection side of the mold base;

allowing the tooling module to cool; and

unwinding the thread-molding core from the tooling module.

9. A method comprising:

inserting a module carrier unit carrying a tooling module into a molding press until the module carrier unit rests on a supporting member of the molding press;

opening locks on an ejection side of a mold base in the molding press;

closing the molding press until the tooling module is coupled to the ejection side of the mold base in the molding press;

closing the locks on the ejection side of the mold base; and

opening locks on the module carrier unit: and

removing the module carrier unit from the molding press.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein removing the module carrier unit from the molding press comprises:

opening the injection molding press.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein removing the module carrier unit from the molding press comprises:

placing the module carrier unit on a rest stand including receiving rails configured to support the module carrier unit.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

inserting a thread-molding core into the tooling module;

extruding molding material into the tooling module, forming a threaded item; and

retracting the thread-molding core from the tooling module into an injection side of the mold base.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the locks on the ejection side of the mold base comprise normally closed air locks.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the locks on the carrier unit comprise normally closed air locks.

15. A method comprising:

inserting a module carrier unit into a molding press, the molding press comprising a mold base with a tooling module mated therein; and

closing the molding press until the tooling module is mated to the module carrier unit;

opening the molding press to remove the tooling module from the mold base; and

removing the tooling module and the module carrier unit from the molding press.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein removing the tooling module and the module carrier unit from the molding press comprises:

placing the module carrier unit on a rest stand including receiving rails configured to support the module carrier unit.