Comprehensive Measurement and Simulation of Prototype Injection Moulds

The injection moulding industry is dynamically developing. The growing demand for more customizable products can be served by low or middle volume production using prototype moulds and inserts. The conventional material of prototype moulds is aluminum because of its excellent machinability, acceptable strength and stiffness and outstanding thermal conductivity. Prototype moulds are gaining ground in the injection moulding industry, yet their operational behavior (including exact mechanical and thermal process parameters) is largely unknown. We created a comprehensive state monitoring system that measures the operational strain, cavity pressure and temperature of different prototype injection moulds. This way, all important process parameters can be measured and the relations between the moulding parameters and the operational pressure loads, deformations and temperatures can be quantified and analysed.