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Correlation between runner pressure and cavity pressure within injection mold

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Abstract

Cavity pressure in the injection molding process is closely related to the quality of the molded products and is used for process monitoring and control to upgrade the quality of molded products. However, the sensor installed inside the cavity makes the molded product of the cavity defective, reducing productivity. In view of this, this study investigates the correlation between melt pressure and cavity pressure in different runner positions and determines the appropriate runner position, where the runner pressure can represent the cavity pressure, in order to increase productivity. First, the Taguchi method is used to obtain the optimal parameter combination of injection molding, and then, the experiment is conducted based on this condition in order to discuss the difference between runner and cavity pressure history profiles. According to the experimental results, the quality of molded products can be monitored and controlled by installing sensors at different runner positions, and the maximum value of the cavity pressure profile varies with the runner position. When the distance between the top of the pressure sensor mounted in the secondary runner and the outside diameter of the runner is greater than the maximum thickness of the molded product, the obtained pressure history profile approximates to that inside the cavity. In other words, the runner pressure can represent the cavity pressure. Mold temperature significantly influences the runner pressure history profile and form accuracy (contour precision) of the lens during the injection molding process, which can be used as a process monitoring and control parameter. In addition, the cavity pressure profile at the cooling stage is closely related to the form accuracy of the lens and is the key to determining process monitoring and control parameter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Kuo-Ming Tsai & Jun-Kai Lan

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  1. Kuo-Ming Tsai
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  2. Jun-Kai Lan
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Correspondence to Kuo-Ming Tsai.

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Tsai, KM., Lan, JK. Correlation between runner pressure and cavity pressure within injection mold. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 79, 273–284 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-014-6776-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-014-6776-5

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