A lock (130) of a molding system (100) having a rod (121) and a platen (122), the lock comprising a lock member (510) associated with the rod (121), the lock member (510) including a row of rod-interrupted teeth (238) extending from the rod (121) and a rod groove (236) extending along the row of rod-interrupted teeth (238), and a complementary lock member (512) including a row of sleeve-interrupted teeth (248) extending from a sleeve (230), the sleeve (230) coupled to the platen (122); and a sleeve groove (246) extending along the row of sleeve-interrupted teeth (248), the row of rod-interrupted teeth (238) of the lock member (510) is rotatably engagable with the row of sleeve interrupted teeth (248) of the complementary lock member (512), the complementary lock member (512) being engagable with the lock member (510) at a position located proximate to a relatively lower flex zone (514) of the platen (122).