Showing posts with label hot runner system. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hot runner system. Show all posts

Friday 19 December 2014

How To Choose The Right Hot Runner System?

When the decision has been made to incorporate a hot runner system into a mold, the question that promptly surfaces is as to what attributes must be taken into consideration? With the many independent suppliers in the market the types and choices of systems are often in resemblance with one system to another. In such a scenario how to opt for the right hot runner system, let’s find out.

Hot runner technology comes with diverse options. In order to accrue molding efficiencies and part quality benefits there are cases where price take precedence over application. Following are some hot runner features and supplier support aspects to consider before making a purchasing decision:

1. After Sale Service
 

In addition to sales, it is important to assure that whether the supplier offer product service, training and start-up assistance or not. These follow-ups are important for an effective installation.

2. Product Range Offerings

In order to achieve the optimum system for molding application and to maximize design flexibility, the supplier must offer an extensive nozzle range of hot tips, valve and edge gates, hot sprues, multi-tips, etc.

3. Resin Testing 

Check out for fully equipped resin testing or R&D facility in order to assist the OEM or mold maker in choosing the best hot runner system type. Furthermore, there should be a balance of resin flow, channel sizing and various other design capabilities to produce a thermally balanced hot runner system. In such a system runners are large enough to give a relatively small pressure drop through the system without causing too much residence time while casting an injection mould.

4. Ease of Maintenance 

At last, ease of maintenance defines the level of system’s sustenance. Your runner installation decision should answer the following questions:

  • Can the gates be cleaned in the machine? 
  • Can wear items such as nozzle tips, thermocouples and heater bands be replaced without removing the mold from the machine? 
  • Can the valve stems in valve-gated systems be adjusted or replaced in the molding machine? 

All these tips are helpful while installing a hot runner system to enhance injection moulding processes. Use of a hot runner system can increase overall molding efficiency by reducing cycle time (easy maintenance), energy and material costs.

Thursday 13 March 2014

What is Scientific Injection Molding?


There has been an upsurge in the demand of dimensionally stable as well as accurate parts and components in the medical sector. Several medical component manufacturers have examined the developments in injection molding and are keen to incorporate the technique for quick production of dimensionally precise medical equipment. Whether it is tight tolerance or thin wall, each of the demanding characteristics of medical components can be catered by a type of injection molding known as Scientific Injection Molding (SIM).

The SIM is an attempt to make the most of the current injection molding procedure. The Scientific injection molding can work with the conventional materials such as thermoplastic materials and other unconventional substance such as silicone rubber, thermoset plastics, high consistency rubber, and the like.

Why scientific injection molding is not a fixed process?

The process of SIM is variable. It depends upon the nature of the manufactured medical device. A little tribal knowledge and past practices help in further tweaking the existing molding procedure. The fine-tuning of the existing injection molding continues until the desired specification of a product has been met. However, building a robust SIM is a time-consuming procedure and requires process engineers to take into consideration several factors such as:-
  • PET preform mold design/construction
  • Part design
  • Process parameters (mold temperature, injection speed, melting temperature, hold pressure, cooling time, etc.) 
  • The molding machinery at work
  • The nature (including viscosity) of the material to be used

How SIM and lean manufacturing are related?

For many industrial players – especially the ones believing in lean manufacturing – scientific injection molding has become a culture. Lean manufacturing and SIM are interrelated as both emphasize on eliminating waste (such as downtime, over processing, defective products, excess inventory, to mention a few) and, thus, reducing the overall cost.

SIM is a data-driven approach based on thorough scientific analysis of the prevailing molding process. Several PET preform manufacturers are developing high-quality single stage Mould that is apt to be used in a scientific injection molding.