Die trend
1. Mold CAD / CAE / CAM being integrated, three-dimensional, intelligent and network direction
(1) Mold software features integrated
Die software features of integrated software modules required relatively complete, while the function module using the same data model, in order to achieve Syndicated news management and sharing of information to support the mold design, manufacture, assembly, inspection, testing and production management of the entire process to achieve optimal benefits. Series such as the UK Delcam's software will include a surface / solid geometric modeling, engineering drawing complex geometry, advanced rendering industrial design, plastic mold design expert system, complex physical CAM, artistic design and sculpture automatic programming system, reverse engineering and complex systems physical line measurement systems. A higher degree of integration of the software includes: Pro / ENGINEER, UG and CATIA, etc.. Shanghai Jiao tong University, China with finite element analysis of metal plastic forming systems and Die CAD / CAM systems; Beijing Beihang Haier Software Ltd. CAXA Series software; Jilin Gold Grid Engineering Research Center of the stamping die mold CAD / CAE / CAM systems .
(2) Mold design, analysis and manufacture of three-dimensional
Two-dimensional mold of traditional structural design can no longer meet modern technical requirements of production and integration. Mold design, analysis, manufacturing three-dimensional technology, paperless software required to mold a new generation of three-dimensional, intuitive sense to design the mold, using three-dimensional digital model can be easily used in the product structure of CAE analysis, tooling manufacturability evaluation and CNC machining, forming process simulation and information management and sharing. Such as Pro / ENGINEER, UG and CATIA software such as with parametric, feature-based, all relevant characteristics, so that mold concurrent engineering possible. In addition, Cimatran company Mold expert, Delcam's Ps-mold and Hitachi Shipbuilding of Space-E/mold are professional injection mold 3D design software, interactive 3D cavity, core design, mold base design configuration and typical structure . Australian company Moldflow realistic three-dimensional flow simulation software MoldflowAdvisers been widely praised by users and applications. China Huazhong University of Science have developed similar software HSC3D4.5F and Zhengzhou University, Z-mold software. For manufacturing, knowledge-based intelligent software function is a measure of die important sign of advanced and practical one. Such as injection molding experts Cimatron's software can automatically generate parting direction based parting line and parting surface, generate products corresponding to the core and cavity, implementation of all relevant parts mold, and for automatically generated BOM Form NC drilling process, and can intelligently process parameter setting, calibration and other processing results.
(3) Mold software applications, networking trend
With the mold in the enterprise competition, cooperation, production and management, globalization, internationalization, and the rapid development of computer hardware and software technology, the Internet has made in the mold industry, virtual design, agile manufacturing technology both necessary and possible. The United States in its "21st Century Manufacturing Enterprise Strategy" that the auto industry by 2006 to achieve agile manufacturing / virtual engineering solutions to automotive development cycle shortened from 40 months to 4 months.
2. mold testing, processing equipment to the precise, efficient, and multi-direction
(1) mold testing equipment more sophisticated, efficient
Sophisticated, complex, large-scale mold development, testing equipment have become increasingly demanding. Precision Mould precision now reached 2 ~ 3μm, more domestic manufacturers have to use Italy, the United States, Japan and other countries in the high-precision coordinate measuring machine, and with digital scanning. Such as Dongfeng Motor Mould Factory not only has the capacity 3250mm × 3250mm Italian coordinate measuring machine, also has a digital photography optical scanner, the first in the domestic use of digital photography, optical scanning as a means of spatial three-dimensional access to information, enabling the establishment from the measurement of physical → model output of engineering drawings → → the whole process of mold making, reverse engineering a successful technology development and applications. This equipment include: second-generation British Renishaw high-speed scanners (CYCLON SERIES2) can be realized and contact laser probe complementary probe, laser scanner accuracy of 0.05mm, scanning probe contact accuracy of 0.02 mm. Another German company GOM ATOS portable scanners, Japan Roland's PIX-30, PIX-4 desktop scanner and the United Kingdom Taylor Hopson's TALYSCAN150 multi-sensor, respectively Three-dimensional scanner with high speed, low-cost and functional composite and so on.
(2) CNC EDM
Japan Sodick linear motor servo drive using the company's AQ325L, AQ550LLS-WEDM have driven fast response, transmission and high positioning accuracy, the advantages of small thermal deformation. Switzerland Chanmier company NCEDM with P-E3 adaptive control, PCE energy control and automatic programming expert systems. Others also used the powder mixed EDM machining technology, micro-finishing pulse power and fuzzy control (FC) technologies.
(3) high-speed milling machine (HSM)
Milling is an important means of cavity mold. The low-temperature high-speed milling with the workpiece, cutting force is small, smooth processing, processing quality, processing efficiency (for the general milling process 5 to 10 times) and can process hard materials (<60HRC) and many other advantages. Thus in the mold processing more and more attention. Ruishikelang company UCP710-type five-axis machining center, machine tool positioning accuracy up to 8μm, home-made closed-loop vector control spindle with a maximum speed 42000r/min. Italy RAMBAUDI's high-speed milling, the processing range of up to 2500mm × 5000mm × 1800mm, speed up 20500r/min, cutting feed speed of 20m/min. HSM generally used large, medium-sized mold, such as motor cover mold, die casting mold, large plastic surface machining, the surface precision up to 0.01mm.
模具的发展趋势
1.模具CAD/CAE/CAM正向集成化、三维化、智能化和网络化方向发展
（1）模具软件功能集成化
模具软件功能的集成化要求软件的功能模块比较齐全，同时各功能模块采用同一数据模型，以实现信息的综合管理与共享，从而支持模具设计、制造、装配、检验、测试及生产管理的全过程，达到实现最佳效益的目的。如英国Delcam公司的系列化软件就包括了曲面/实体几何造型、复杂形体工程制图、工业设计高级渲染、塑料模设计专家系统、复杂形体CAM、艺术造型及雕刻自动编程系统、逆向工程系统及复杂形体在线测量系统等。集成化程度较高的软件还包括：Pro/ENGINEER、UG和CATIA等。国内有上海交通大学金属塑性成型有限元分析系统和冲裁模CAD/CAM系统；北京北航海尔软件有限公司的CAXA系列软件；吉林金网格模具工程研究中心的冲压模CAD/CAE/CAM系统等。
（2）模具设计、分析及制造的三维化
传统的二维模具结构设计已越来越不适应现代化生产和集成化技术要求。模具设计、分析、制造的三维化、无纸化要求新一代模具软件以立体的、直观的感觉来设计模具，所采用的三维数字化模型能方便地用于产品结构的CAE分析、模具可制造性评价和数控加工、成形过程模拟及信息的管理与共享。如Pro/ENGINEER、UG和CATIA等软件具备参数化、基于特征、全相关等特点，从而使模具并行工程成为可能。另外，Cimatran公司的Moldexpert，Delcam公司的Ps-mold及日立造船的Space-E/mold均是3D专业注塑模设计软件，可进行交互式3D型腔、型芯设计、模架配置及典型结构设计。澳大利亚Moldflow公司的三维真实感流动模拟软件MoldflowAdvisers已经受到用户广泛的好评和应用。国内有华中理工大学研制的同类软件HSC3D4.5F及郑州工业大学的Z-mold软件。面向制造、基于知识的智能化功能是衡量模具软件先进性和实用性的重要标志之一。如Cimatron公司的注塑模专家软件能根据脱模方向自动产生分型线和分型面，生成与制品相对应的型芯和型腔，实现模架零件的全相关，自动产生材料明细表和供NC加工的钻孔表格，并能进行智能化加工参数设定、加工结果校验等。
（3）模具软件应用的网络化趋势
随着模具在企业竞争、合作、生产和管理等方面的全球化、国际化，以及计算机软硬件技术的迅速发展，网络使得在模具行业应用虚拟设计、敏捷制造技术既有必要，也有可能。美国在其《21世纪制造企业战略》中指出，到2006年要实现汽车工业敏捷生产/虚拟工程方案，使汽车开发周期从40个月缩短到4个月。
2. 模具检测、加工设备向精密、高效和多功能方向发展
（1）模具检测设备的日益精密、高效
精密、复杂、大型模具的发展，对检测设备的要求越来越高。现在精密模具的精度已达2～3μm，目前国内厂家使用较多的有意大利、美国、日本等国的高精度三坐标测量机，并具有数字化扫描功能。如东风汽车模具厂不仅拥有意大利产3250mm×3250mm三坐标测量机，还拥有数码摄影光学扫描仪，率先在国内采用数码摄影、光学扫描作为空间三维信息的获得手段，从而实现了从测量实物→建立数学模型→输出工程图纸→模具制造全过程，成功实现了逆向工程技术的开发和应用。这方面的设备还包括：英国雷尼绍公司第二代高速扫描仪(CYCLON SERIES2)可实现激光测头和接触式测头优势互补，激光扫描精度为0.05mm，接触式测头扫描精度达0.02mm。另外德国GOM公司的ATOS便携式扫描仪，日本罗兰公司的PIX-30、PIX-4台式扫描仪和英国泰勒•霍普森公司TALYSCAN150多传感三维扫描仪分别具有高速化、廉价化和功能复合化等特点。
（2）数控电火花加工机床
日本沙迪克公司采用直线电机伺服驱动的AQ325L、AQ550LLS-WEDM具有驱动反应快、传动及定位精度高、热变形小等优点。瑞士夏米尔公司的NCEDM具有P-E3自适应控制、PCE能量控制及自动编程专家系统。另外有些EDM还采用了混粉加工工艺、微精加工脉冲电源及模糊控制(FC)等技术。
（3）高速铣削机床(HSM)
铣削加工是型腔模具加工的重要手段。而高速铣削具有工件温升低、切削力小、加工平稳、加工质量好、加工效率高(为普通铣削加工的5～10倍)及可加工硬材料(<60HRC)等诸多优点。因而在模具加工中日益受到重视。瑞士克朗公司UCP710型五轴联动加工中心，其机床定位精度可达8μm，自制的具有矢量闭环控制电主轴，最大转速为42000r/min。意大利RAMBAUDI公司的高速铣床，其加工范围达2500mm×5000mm×1800mm，转速达20500r/min，切削进给速度达20m/min。HSM一般主要用于大、中型模具加工，如汽车覆盖件模具、压铸模、大型塑料等曲面加工，其曲面加工精度可达0.01mm。
The mold designing and manufacturing
The mold is the manufacturing industry important craft foundation, in our country, the mold manufacture belongs to the special purpose equipment manufacturing industry. China although very already starts to make the mold and the use mold, but long-term has not formed the industry. Straight stabs 0 centuries 80's later periods, the Chinese mold industry only then drives into the development speedway. Recent years, not only the state-owned mold enterprise had the very big development, the three investments enterprise, the villages and towns (individual) the mold enterprise's development also rapid quietly.
Although the Chinese mold industrial development rapid, but compares with the demand, obviously falls short of demand, its main gap concentrates precisely to, large-scale, is complex, the long life mold domain. As a result of in aspect and so on mold precision, life, manufacture cycle and productivity, China and the international average horizontal and the developed country still had a bigger disparity, therefore, needed massively to import the mold every year .
The Chinese mold industry must continue to sharpen the productivity, from now on will have emphatically to the profession internal structure adjustment and the state-of-art enhancement. The structure adjustment aspect, mainly is the enterprise structure to the specialized adjustment, the product structure to center the upscale mold development, to the import and export structure improvement, center the upscale automobile cover mold forming analysis and the structure improvement, the multi-purpose compound mold and the compound processing and the laser technology in the mold design manufacture application, the high-speed cutting, the super finishing and polished the technology, the information direction develops .
The recent years, the mold profession structure adjustment and the organizational reform step enlarges, mainly displayed in, large-scale, precise, was complex, the long life, center the upscale mold and the mold standard letter development speed is higher than the common mold product; The plastic mold and the compression casting mold proportion increases; Specialized mold factory quantity and its productivity increase; "The three investments" and the private enterprise develops rapidly; The joint stock system transformation step speeds up and so on. Distributes from the area looked, take Zhejiang Delta and Yangtze River delta as central southeast coastal area development quickly to mid-west area, south development quickly to north. At present develops quickest, the mold produces the most centralized province is Guangdong and Zhejiang, places such as Jiangsu, Shanghai, Anhui and Shandong also has a bigger development in recent years.
Although our country mold total quantity had at present achieved the suitable scale, the mold level also has the very big enhancement, after but design manufacture horizontal overall rise and fall industry developed country and so on Yu De, America, date, France, Italy many. The current existence question and the disparity mainly display in following several aspects:
(1) The total quantity falls short of demand
Domestic mold assembling one rate only, about 70%. Low-grade mold, center upscale mold assembling oneself rate only has 50% about.
(2) the enterprise organizational structure, the product structure, the technical structure and the import and export structure does not gather
in our country mold production factory to be most is from the labor mold workshop which produces assembles oneself (branch factory), from produces assembles oneself the proportion to reach as high as about 60%, but the overseas mold ultra 70% is the commodity mold. The specialized mold factory mostly is "large and complete", "small and entire" organization form, but overseas mostly is "small but", "is specially small and fine". Domestic large-scale, precise, complex, the long life mold accounts for the total quantity proportion to be insufficient 30%, but overseas in 50% above 2004 years, ratio of the mold import and export is 3.7:1, the import and export balances the after net import volume to amount to 1.32 billion US dollars, is world mold net import quantity biggest country .
(3) The mold product level greatly is lower than the international standard
The production cycle actually is higher than the international water broad product level low mainly to display in the mold precision, cavity aspect and so on surface roughness, life and structure.
(4) Develops the ability badly, economic efficiency unsatisfactory our country mold enterprise technical personnel proportion low
The level is lower, also does not take the product development, and is frequent in the passive position in the market. Our country each mold staff average year creation output value approximately, ten thousand US dollars, overseas mold industry developed country mostly 15 to10, 000 US dollars, some reach as high as 25 to10, 000 US dollars, relative is our country quite part of molds enterprises also continues to use the workshop type management with it, truly realizes the enterprise which the modernized enterprise manages few
To create the above disparity the reason to be very many, the mold long-term has not obtained the value besides the history in as the product which should have, as well as the most state-owned enterprises mechanism cannot adapt the market economy, but also has the following several reasons: .
(1) Country to mold industry policy support dynamics also insufficiently
Although the country already was clear about has promulgated the mold profession industrial policy, but necessary policy few, carried out dynamics to be weak. At present enjoyed the mold product increment duty enterprise nation 185; the majority enterprise still the tax burden is only overweight. The mold enterprise carries on the technological transformations introduction equipment to have to pay the considerable amount the tax money, affects the technology advancement, moreover privately operated enterprise loan extremely difficult.
(2) Talented person serious insufficient, the scientific research development and the technical attack investment too urine
mold profession is the technology, the fund, the work crowded industry, along with the time progress and the technical development, grasps the talented person which and skilled utilizes the new technology exceptionally short, the high-quality mold fitter and the enterprise management talent extremely is also anxious. Because the mold enterprise benefit unsatisfactory and takes insufficiently the scientific research development and the technical attack, the scientific research unit and the universities, colleges and institutes eye stares at is creating income, causes the mold profession invests too few in the scientific research development and the technical attack aspect, causes the mold technological development step doe not to be big, progresses does not be quick.
(3) The craft equipment level is low, also is not good, the using factor is low. Recent years ,our country engine bed profession progressed quickly, has been able to provide the quite complete precision work equipment, but compared with the overseas equipment, still had a bigger disparity. Although the domestic many enterprises have introduced many overseas advanced equipment, but the overall equipment level low are very more than the overseas many enterprises. As a result of aspect the and so on system and fund reason, introduces the equipment not necessary, the equipment and the appendix not necessary phenomenon are extremely common, the equipment utilization rate low question cannot obtain the comparatively properly solution for a long time .
(4) Specialization, standardization, commercialized degree low, the cooperation ability
Because receives "large and complete" "small and entire" the influence since long ago, mold specialization level low, the specialized labor division is not careful, the commercialized degree is low. At present domestic every year produces mold, commodity mold minister 40% about, other for from produce uses for oneself. Between the molds enterprise cooperates impeded, completes the comparatively large-scale mold complete task with difficulty. Mold standardization level low, mold standard letter use cave rare is low also to the mold quality, the cost has a more tremendous influence, specially has very tremendous influence.
(5) To the mold manufacture cycle) the mold material and the mold correlation technology fall
The mold material performance, the quality and the variety question often can affect the mold quality, the life and the cost, the domestically produced molding tool steel and overseas imports the steel products to compare has a bigger disparity. Plastic, plate, equipment energy balance, also direct influence mold level enhancement.
At present, our country economy still was at the high speed development phase, on the international economical globalization development tendency is day by day obvious, this has provided the good condition and the opportunity for the our country mold industry high speed development. On the one hand, the domestic mold market will continue high speed to develop, on the other hand, the mold manufacture also gradually will shift as well as the transnational group to our country carries on the mold purchase trend to our country extremely to be also obvious. Therefore, will take a broad view the future, international, the domestic mold market overall development tendency prospect will favor, estimated the Chinese mold will obtain the high speed development under the good market environment, our country not only can become the mold great nation, moreover certainly gradually will make the powerful nation to the mold the ranks to make great strides forward. "15" period, the Chinese mold industry level not only has the very big enhancement in the quantity and the archery target aspect, moreover the profession structure, the product level, the development innovation ability, enterprise's system and the mechanism as well as the technology advancement aspect also can obtain a bigger development .
The mold technology has gathered the machinery, the electron, chemistry, optics, the material, the computer, the precise monitor and the information network and so on many disciplines, is a comprehensive nature multi-disciplinary systems engineering. The mold technology development tendency mainly is the mold product to larger-scale, precise, more complex and a more economical direction develops, the mold product technical content unceasingly enhances, the mold manufacture cycle unceasingly reduces, the mold production faces the information, is not having the chart, is fine, the automated direction develops, the mold enterprise to the technical integration, the equipment excellent, is producing approves the brand, the management information, the management internationalization direction develops.
Mold profession in "十15" period needs to solve the key essential technology should be the mold information, the digitized technology and precise, ultra fine, high speed, the highly effective manufacture technology aspect breakthrough
Along with the national economy total quantity and the industry product technology unceasing development, all the various trades and occupations to the mold demand quantity more and more big, the specification more and more is also high.
Although mold type many, but its development should be with emphasis both can meet the massive needs, and has the comparatively high-tech content, specially at present domestic still could not be self-sufficient, needs the massive imports the mold and can represent the development direction large-scale, precise, is complex, the long life mold. Standard letter type, quantity, level and the production of the mold have significant influence to the entire mold profession development. Therefore, some important mold standard letters also must prioritize, moreover its development speed should quickly to the mold development speed, like this be able unceasingly to raise our country mold standardization level, thus improves the mold quality, reduces the mold production cycle, reduces the cost. Because our country mold product holds the bigger price superiority in the international market, therefore regarding the exportation prospect good mold product also should take key develops. According to the above required quantity big, the technical content is high, represents the development direction, the export prospect good principle choice prioritize product, moreover chooses the product to have at present to have the certain technology base, belongs has the condition, has the product which the possibility develops .
模具设计与制造
模具是制造业的重要工艺基础，在我国模具制造属于专用设备制造业。中国虽然很早就开始制造模具和使用模具，但长期未形成产业。直到20世纪80年代后期，中国模具工业才驶入发展的快车道。近年，不仅国有模具企业有了很大发展，三资企业、乡镇（个体）模具企业的发展也相当迅速。
虽然中国模具工业发展迅速，但与需求相比，显然供不应求，其主要缺口集中于精密、大型、复杂、长寿命模具领域。由于在模具精度、寿命、制造周期及生产能力等方面，中国与国际平均水平和发达国家仍有较大差距，因此，每年需要大量进口模具。
中国模具产业除了要继续提高生产能力，今后更要着重于行业内部结构的调整和技术发展水平的提高。结构调整方面，主要是企业结构向专业化调整，产品结构向着中高档模具发展，向进出口结构的改进，中高档汽车覆盖件模具成形分析及结构改进、多功能复合模具和复合加工及激光技术在模具设计制造上的应用、高速切削、超精加工及抛光技术、信息化方向发展。
近年，模具行业结构调整和体制改革步伐加大，主要表现在，大型、精密、复杂、长寿命、中高档模具及模具标准件发展速度高于一般模具产品；塑料模和压铸模比例增大；专业模具厂数量及其生产能力增加；“三资”及私营企业发展迅速；股份制改造步伐加快等。从地区分布来看，以珠江三角洲和长江三角洲为中心的东南沿海地区发展快于中西部地区，南方的发展快于北方。目前发展最快、模具生产最为集中的省份是广东和浙江，江苏、上海、安徽和山东等地近几年也有较大发展。
虽然我国模具总量目前已达到相当规模，模具水平也有很大提高，但设计制造水平总体上落后于德、美、日、法、意等工业发达国家许多。当前存在的问题和差距主要表现在以下几方面：
（1）总量供不应求，国内模具自配率只有70%左右。其中低档模具供过于求，中高档模具自配率只有50%左右。
（2）企业组织结构、产品结构、技术结构和进出口结构均不合理 。我国模具生产厂中多数是自产自配的工模具车间（分厂），自产自配比例高达60%左右，而国外模具超过70%属商品模具。专业模具厂大多是“大而全”、“小而全”的组织形式，而国外大多是“小而专”、“小而精”。国内大型、精密、复杂、长寿命的模具占总量比例不足30%，而国外在50%以上。2004年，模具进出口之比为3.7:1，进出口相抵后的净进口额达13.2亿美元，为世界模具净进口量最大的国家。
（3）模具产品水平大大低于国际水平，生产周期却高于国际水平 产品水平低主要表现在模具的精度、型腔表面粗糙度、寿命及结构等方面。
（4）开发能力较差，经济效益欠佳，我国模具企业技术人员比例低，水平较低，且不重视产品开发，在市场中经常处于被动地位。我国每个模具职工平均年创造产值约合1万美元，国外模具工业发达国家大多是15～20万美元，有的高达25～30万美元，与之相对的是我国相当一部分模具企业还沿用过去作坊式管理，真正实现现代化企业管理的企业较少。
造成上述差距的原因很多，除了历史上模具作为产品长期未得到应有的重视，以及多数国有企业机制不能适应市场经济之外，还有下列几个原因：
（1）国家对模具工业的政策支持力度还不够，虽然国家已经明确颁布了模具行业的产业政策，但配套政策少，执行力度弱。目前享受模具产品增值税的企业全国只有185家，大多数企业仍旧税负过重。模具企业进行技术改造引进设备要缴纳相当数量的税金，影响技术进步，而且民营企业贷款十分困难。
（2）人才严重不足，科研开发及技术攻关投入太少，模具行业是技术、资金、劳动密集的产业，随着时代的进步和技术的发展，掌握并且熟练运用新技术的人才异常短缺，高级模具钳工及企业管理人才也非常紧张。由于模具企业效益欠佳及对科研开发和技术攻关重视不够，科研单位和大专院校的眼睛盯着创收，导致模具行业在科研开发和技术攻关方面投入太少，致使模具技术发展步伐不大，进展不快。
（3）工艺装备水平低，且配套性不好，利用率低，近年来我国机床行业进步较快，已能提供比较成套的高精度加工设备，但与国外装备相比，仍有较大差距。虽然国内许多企业已引进许多国外先进设备，但总体的装备水平比国外许多企业低很多。由于体制和资金等方面的原因，引进设备不配套，设备与附件不配套现象十分普遍，设备利用率低的问题长期得不到较妥善的解决。
（4）专业化、标准化、商品化程度低，协作能力差，由于长期以来受“大而全”“小而全”影响，模具专业化水平低，专业分工不细致，商品化程度低。目前国内每年生产的模具，商品模具只占40%左右，其余为自产自用。模具企业之间协作不畅，难以完成较大规模的模具成套任务。模具标准化水平低，模具标准件使用覆盖率低也对模具质量、成本有较大影响，特别是对模具制造周期有很大影响。
（5）模具材料及模具相关技术落后，模具材料性能、质量和品种问题往往会影响模具质量、寿命及成本，国产模具钢与国外进口钢材相比有较大差距。塑料、板材、设备性能差，也直接影响模具水平的提高。
目前，我国经济仍处于高速发展阶段，国际上经济全球化发展趋势日趋明显，这为我国模具工业高速发展提供了良好的条件和机遇。一方面，国内模具市场将继续高速发展，另一方面，模具制造也逐渐向我国转移以及跨国集团到我国进行模具采购趋向也十分明显。因此，放眼未来，国际、国内的模具市场总体发展趋势前景看好，预计中国模具将在良好的市场环境下得到高速发展，我国不但会成为模具大国，而且一定逐步向模具制造强国的行列迈进。“十一五”期间，中国模具工业水平不仅在量和质的方面有很大提高，而且行业结构、产品水平、开发创新能力、企业的体制与机制以及技术进步的方面也会取得较大发展。
模具技术集合了机械、电子、化学、光学、材料、计算机、精密监测和信息网络等诸多学科，是一个综合性多学科的系统工程。模具技术的发展趋势主要是模具产品向着更大型、更精密、更复杂及更经济的方向发展，模具产品的技术含量不断提高，模具制造周期不断缩短，模具生产朝着信息化、无图化、精细化、自动化的方向发展，模具企业向着技术集成化、设备精良化、产批品牌化、管理信息化、经营国际化的方向发展。
模具行业在“十一五”期间需要解决的重点关键技术应是模具信息化、数字化技术和精密、超精、高速、高效制造技术方面的突破，随着国民经济总量和工业产品技术的不断发展，各行各业对模具的需求量越来越大，技术要求也越来越高。虽然模具种类繁多，但其发展重点应该是既能满足大量需要，又有较高技术含量，特别是目前国内尚不能自给，需大量进口的模具和能代表发展方向的大型、精密、复杂、长寿命模具。模具标准件的种类、数量、水平、生产集中度等对整个模具行业的发展有重大影响。因此，一些重要的模具标准件也必须重点发展，而且其发展速度应快于模具的发展速度，这样才能不断提高我国模具标准化水平，从而提高模具质量，缩短模具生产周期，降低成本。由于我国的模具产品在国际市场上占有较大的价格优势，因此对于出口前景好的模具产品也应作为重点来发展。根据上述需要量大、技术含量高、代表发展方向、口前景好的原则选择重点发展产品，而且所选产品必须目前已有一定技术基础，属于有条件、有可能发展起来的产品。
