The Use of Advanced Aluminum Alloys for Enhanced Productivity in Plastic Injection Molding

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Nerone ◽  
Karthik Ramani
Keyword(s):  
Aluminum Alloys ◽  
Injection Molding ◽  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Cooling Time ◽  
Coolant Temperature ◽  
Steel Mold ◽  
Cooling Channels ◽  
Injection Molding Simulation ◽  
Increased Strength

Abstract New aluminum alloys, QC-7® and QE-7®, have thermal conductivities four times greater than traditional tool steels, and have significantly increased strength and hardness compared to traditional aluminum materials. Molds were constructed of P-20 tool steel and QE-7® aluminum and were used to provide experimental data regarding thermal mold characteristic and confirm injection molding simulation predictions using C-Mold®. The relationships between cooling time reduction (using aluminum alloys) and polymer type, cooling channel depth, part wall thickness, and coolant temperature were explored both experimentally and using simulation software. It was shown that the potential reduction in cooling time varied from 5% to 25%. The most significant percentage improvements were observed in parts with part wall thickness of 0.05″ to 0.10″ and in molds with cooling channels at a depth ratio (D/d) of 2.0. The thermal pulses in the steel mold 0.10″ from the surface were approximately 63% larger than in aluminum mold.

Gate Location Optimization in Injection Molding Processing

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baojiu Lin ◽  
Won Gil Ryim
Keyword(s):  
Injection Molding ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Software Module ◽  
Location Optimization ◽  
Gate Location ◽  
Part Quality ◽  
Design Cycle ◽  
Injection Molding Simulation ◽  
Complex Models

Abstract Improvements in part quality and cost reduction are the primary objectives of CAE use in the injection molding industry. Engineers use advanced injection molding simulation software to analyze and verify their part designs. Traditionally, engineers have had to rerun simulations to verify the effects of changes in gate locations. For complex models, simulations are very time consuming. To reduce the design cycle time, a Design Optimization Module is developed by C-MOLD. One of the functions of this new software module is to automatically select optimal gate locations. This innovative technology is the result of close R&D collaboration between C-MOLD and LG-PRC in Korea. An overview of gate location optimization technology is presented in this paper, and several examples are also presented as illustration.

scholarly journals Design, Optimization and Validation of Conformal Cooling Technique for Additively Manufactured Mold Insert

2021 ◽  
Vol 2070 (1) ◽  
pp. 012225
Author(s):  
G.Dongre Ganesh ◽  
S.Chaitanya Sarang ◽  
M.Jonnalagadda Sai
Keyword(s):  
Injection Molding ◽  
Mold Insert ◽  
Cooling Time ◽  
Cyclic Process ◽  
Conformal Cooling ◽  
Cooling Circuit ◽  
Cycle Times ◽  
Cooling Channels ◽  
Conventional Cooling ◽  
Time Required

Abstract Injection molding is a cyclic process comprising of cooling phase as the largest part of this cycle. Providing efficient cooling in lesser cycle times is of significant importance in the molding industry. Conformal cooling is a proven technique for reduction in cycle times for injection molding. In this study, we have replaced a conventional cooling circuit with an optimized conformal cooling circuit in an injection molding tool (mold). The required heat transfer rate, coolant flow rate and diameter of channel was analytically calculated. Hybrid Laser powder bed fusion technique was used to manufacture this mold tool with conformal channels. The material used for manufacturing mold was maraging steel (M300). Thermal efficiency of the conformal channels was experimentally calculated using thermal imaging. Autodesk MoldFlow software was used to simulate and predict the cooling time required using conformal cooling channels. The results showed a decrease in cooling time and increase in cooling efficiency with the help of conformal cooling in additively manufactured mold insert.

scholarly journals Gate Design in Injection Molding of Microfluidic Components Using Process Simulations

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Maximilian Marhöfer ◽  
Guido Tosello ◽  
Aminul Islam ◽  
Hans Nørgaard Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Injection Molding ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Process Window ◽  
Actual Process ◽  
Flow Front ◽  
Steel Mold ◽  
Polymer Flow ◽  
Process Simulations ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Gate Design

Just as in conventional injection molding of plastics, process simulations are an effective and interesting tool in the area of micro-injection molding. They can be applied in order to optimize and assist the design of the microplastic part, the mold, and the actual process. Available simulation software is however actually made for macroscopic injection molding. By means of the correct implementation and careful modeling strategy though, it can also be applied to microplastic parts, as it is shown in the present work. Process simulations were applied to two microfluidic devices (a microfluidic distributor and a mixer). The paper describes how the two devices were meshed in the simulations software to obtain a proper simulation model and where the challenges arose. One of the main goals of the simulations was the investigation of the filling of the parts. Great emphasis was also on the optimization of selected gate designs for both plastic parts. Subsequently, the simulation results were used to answer the question which gate design was the most appropriate with regard to the process window, polymer flow, and part quality. This finally led to an optimization of the design and the realization of this design in practice as actual steel mold. Additionally, the simulation results were critically discussed and possible improvements and limitations of the gained results and the deployed software were described. Ultimately, the simulation results were validated by cross-checking the flow front behavior of the polymer flow predicted by the simulation with the actual flow front at different time steps. These were realized by molding short shots with the realized molds and were compared to the simulations at the global, i.e., part level and at the local, i.e. feature level.

Verification CAE System for Plastic Injection

2016 ◽  
Vol 834 ◽  
pp. 79-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukáš Satin ◽  
Jozef Bílik
Keyword(s):  
Injection Molding ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
3D Scanner ◽  
Injection Process ◽  
Major Subject ◽  
Technology Process ◽  
Injection Molding Simulation ◽  
Plastic Parts ◽  
Cae System ◽  
Plastic Injection

This article is focused on the field of computer simulation and it is subsequent verification in practice. The work highlights the injection process, the simulation software that is specialized in injection molding and the technology process of injection itself. The major subject of the thesis is the use of the computer aided injection molding technology by using the CAE systems. The experimental part of the thesis deals with the production of the 3D model specific plastic parts in two modifications, injection molding simulation in the system Moldex3D and digitization of moldings on the optical 3D scanner. In the thesis we also provide measuring realization on digitized models and comparison of the parts size with the computer model. In conclusion we summarize the results achieved from the comparison. The thesis is carried out in cooperation with the Simulpast s.r.o.

A novel method for predicting degrees of crystallinity in injection molding during packing stage

2017 ◽  
Vol 233 (1) ◽  
pp. 204-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Zhao ◽  
Weimin Yang ◽  
Xiaoman Wang ◽  
Jiangang Li ◽  
Bo Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injection Molding ◽  
Prediction Method ◽  
Mold Temperature ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Packing Pressure ◽  
Injection Molding Simulation ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
High Cooling Rates ◽  
Density Results

Being able to predict products’ degrees of crystallinity and thereby optimize their crystallization processes is of great significance for producing high-quality polymeric products in injection molding. However, it is rather difficult to theoretically establish the relationship between the crystallization results and processing conditions (high cooling rates and pressures, strong and complex flow fields). Injection molding simulation software can simulate polymers’ density results during packing stage, and these predicted density results can be used to calculate polymers’ crystallinity results. Based on this idea, a novel method was proposed to predict the degrees of crystallinity for polymers during packing stage. In this method, pressure and temperature results are first simulated by an injection molding simulation software, and then the density results are calculated based on a pressure–volume–temperature model. Next, the crystallinity results are solved according to the densities of the fully crystalline part and the purely amorphous part. Finally, two case studies are conducted to verify the proposed crystallinity prediction method. Moreover, the effects of packing parameters (mold temperature, packing pressure, and packing time) on polymers’ crystallization behaviors are investigated. The experimental results show that the proposed method is correct and effective.

The Cooling Time of Gas Assisted Injection Molding

2011 ◽  
Vol 221 ◽  
pp. 422-428
Author(s):  
Qiu Xiang Bu ◽  
Xiao Zhang ◽  
Hai Ying Chen ◽  
Qing Zhen Yin
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Injection Molding ◽  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Cooling Time ◽  
Cooling Process ◽  
Liquid Phases ◽  
Solid Liquid Interface ◽  
Solid Liquid ◽  
The Mathematical Model ◽  
Plastic Products

The mathematical model of solid-liquid interface is obtained by making an idealized hypothesis for parameters of the cooling process in gas-assisted injection molding, and simplifying the mathematical model. And then the cooling time of plastic products in the process is obtained by using two ways of solving the solid and liquid phases. And verified by example the conclusions that some plastic products of gas-assisted injection molding, when the materials and workmanship conditions are constant, cooling time of the airway is proportional to the square of the wall thickness is obtained.

Improving the predictions of injection molding simulation software

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 2542-2551 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Vietri ◽  
A. Sorrentino ◽  
V. Speranza ◽  
R. Pantani
Keyword(s):  
Injection Molding ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Injection Molding Simulation

Comparison of injection molding processability of polylactic acid and high density polyethylene via computational approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Tin Sin ◽  
Yi-Ru Ng ◽  
Soo-Tueen Bee ◽  
Tiam-Ting Tee ◽  
A. R. Rahmat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injection Molding ◽  
Polylactic Acid ◽  
High Density Polyethylene ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
High Density ◽  
Computational Method ◽  
Clamp Force ◽  
Injection Molding Simulation ◽  
Velocity Pressure ◽  
Mean Time

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to compare the injection molding processability of polylactic acid (PLA) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) via a computational method. This study was conducted using injection molding simulation software Moldflow® using an iPhone 4 case (I4C) to evaluate the filling and packing stages of PLA and HDPE. The fill time, velocity/pressure switch over (VPSO), frozen layer fraction, time to freeze, volumetric shrinkages and clamp force were analyzed. The results showed that PLA requires a slightly longer time to fill the cavity compared to HDPE. At the mean time, the VPSO of PLA was larger than HDPE, as a result of the higher viscosity characteristic of PLA. From the packing analysis, it was found that the extent of shrinkage for PLA and HDPE was 4.11% and 4.78%, respectively. This result shows that an I4C produced by either PLA or HDPE have very close dimensions. In other words, the redesign of mold to fulfill the different shrinkage extent for PLA and HDPE is unnecessary, which indicates a cost of production saving. Finally, the manufacturing of PLA required a higher tonnage injection molding machine compared to HDPE where the clamp tonnage of PLA is 2.5 times higher than HDPE.

Development of a Novel Pvt Measuring Technique

2012 ◽  
Vol 729 ◽  
pp. 126-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferenc Szabó ◽  
József Gábor Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Injection Molding ◽  
Input Data ◽  
Measuring Method ◽  
Mold Temperature ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Processing Conditions ◽  
Pvt Data ◽  
Injection Molding Simulation ◽  
Volume Relation

The pressure-temperature-specific volume relation of polymers is important not only for physical chemistry, but they are very significant input data for injection molding simulation software. Todays methods for measuring pvT data are slow, measurements can take days to be carried out, and in many cases the accuracy of the measurement is unsatisfactory. In our work, a new measuring method has been developed which makes the determination of the pvT relation faster compared to conventional processes within injection molding processing conditions. For the measurements a special injection mould was developed, in which the pvT relation of the material can be determined from the shrinkage in the mold. The data measured by the new method using polypropylene at a mold temperature of 23°C were compared to the data given in the database of the simulation software.

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