b'Molding a Stellar Trajectory the company from the early 1960sIn addition, the company does to the early 1990s. Donlin noted thatengraving using chemical etching, he started working in the shop dur- pantograph machines, CNC ma-embossing dies into the 1970s. ing the summers when he was inchines and sinker EDMs.When plastic injection moldinghigh school and became a full-time made inroads into the manufactur- employee in 1985 after graduatingDistinguishing the Companying industry in the 1940s, Cometcollege. We were doing so muchComet,whichemploysabout would duplicate cavities and coresof it that my father said, You know65workersatits4,645-sq.-m for moldmakers, Donlin said. Thiswhat, why dont I just start making(50,000-sq.-ft.) facility in Elmhurst, processinvolvedmakingwoodmolds myself? And thats what weIllinois, performs a process that no models of the molds and then copyare; we are a moldmaker. other moldmaker does, although milling the required features into aother types of manufacturers do, steel workpiece using a duplicat- about the authoraccording to Donlin. There is a lot ing machine, which had a stylus thatof decorative engraving, but the would follow the wood model.Alan Richter isthing Im talking about is texturing.He said duplicating the mold fea- editor of CTE.Thecompanystatesthatits tures became a major thrust forContact him atCometex etching method enables Comet. That was during my fa- 847-714-0175 orComet to texture a mold with virtu-thers day when we were doing a lotalanr@ctemedia. ally any pattern or drawing. I can of duplicating, Donlin said aboutcom. texture a mold that is probably the 40MARCH 2020Moldmaking.indd 40 2/14/20 3:38 PM'