Counter to expectations, analog is a critical part of mold manufacturing. Using cutting-edge CAD equipment for digital design, Matsuno Kanagata performs high-speed machine molding for accuracy and human finishing for quality. It should be noted that merely processing parts as per the drawings and combining them to create a mold does not result in a quality product.

Many people believe that simply having 3D data for a product means that making a mold is easy, but the stable, mass production of a product requires more than creating the mold according to the specifications.

As technological innovations continue to change manufacturing, more processing will be handled digitally, and the standard for precision will increase, but there will always be a need for humans to use their fine-honed senses to ensure true quality is being produced.

Polishing the surface of a mold to a fine finish is often needed, not only to ensure an attractive product, but to decrease the coefficient of friction and extend the life of the mold. How fine of a finish is required depends on the intended use of the final product. In many cases, the product must be smoothed to the nanometer level, far too fine to be detected with the human eye.

Such polishing requires hours of intensive work by a skilled artisan.

Although there are good machines that perform flat surface polishing, the machine that can handle complex curves and forms has not yet been invented. Matsuno Kanagata pushes the limits of fine work, employing highly skilled artisans who determine the technique required in a way that no machine can, creating the finest molds possible.