Optimizing the Molding Parameters
Chapter 4
Professor Joe Greene
CSU, CHICO
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MFGT 144
September 20, 1999
Chapter 4 Topics
• Need for Control
– Part Quality
– Part Cost
• Optimizing the Parameters
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Temperature
Pressure
Time
Distance
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Need for Control
• Important to produce parts to meet product
performance and cost requirements.
– Consistency is achieved through tightly controlling
process parameters that affect how the plastic fills the
mold.
• Part Quality
– Developed as a series of performance specs through
meetings with customer, e.g., bumper 5 MPH test
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Example, part dimension weight, surface finish, gloss level
Toothbrush- shape and clear plastic with functionality.
Fin- shape, rigid, parts hold together during surfing
Straw- outside and inside dimensions are critical
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Worms- flexible, shape, color, sparkles
Need for Control
• Part Cost
– Part Design
• Amount and type of material
• Amount of complexity in design affects scrap rate
• Assembled parts or secondary operations required
– Manufacturing process
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Cycle time
Scrap rate due to process inefficiencies
Secondary operations efficiency
Reduce cost through expertise in part production and cycle time
reduction.
• Changes in plant environment and personnel affects cycle 4time
and quality
Need for Control
• Parameter Effects
– Table 4-1. Molding Parameters
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Proper Parameter Values
• The Setup Sheet (Chart 4-1)
– Needed to monitor the events and process conditions at
each machine.
– Usually done electronically today through data
acquisition.
– Needed to meet quality rating systems
• ISO9000
• Q/S System
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Proper Parameter Values
• Installing and Setting Up the Mold
– Sizing and Inspection of machine
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Proper hydraulic oil level
Heater bands in place and operating
Mold temperature controllers operable
Injection cylinder empty and screw forward
Hopper shutoff closed and hopper wiped clean
Proper material available and dried
Granulator clean and available
Safety gates and mechanisms operating
Vent Hoods clean and operating
Machine lubricated
Alarms and lights operable
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Proper Parameter Values
• Installation Procedure
1. Make sure mold has connecting strap for A and B sides during
transportation. Transport mold to machine using mold eyebolt.
2. Start machine and move injection sled to back position.
3. Open clamp wide enough to accept mold.
4. Lower mold from the top of machine
5. Position the mold such that the locator ring will slip into locating
hole.
6. Level and square mold with platen.
7. Locate clamps and bolt the A side to the stationary platen.
8. Place ejector rods in mold and slowly bring platten forward to
clamp the B side until pressure is reached desired level.
9. Shut off the machine. Locate clamps and bolt B side to the moving
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platen.
Proper Parameter Values
• Installation Procedure
10. Remove chain fall hook, eyebolt, and connecting strap from mold
11. Recheck clamps and insure all are tight.
12. Start machine and open mold slowly.
13. Rest from photocopy
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Optimizing Temperature
• Four basic categories
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Temperature
Pressure
Time
Distance
Temperature
Pressure
Time
Distance
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Injection Molding Parameters
• Temperature
– Injection Cylinder Feed Throat
• Biggest Concern is Bridging, where polymer material heats up,
melts, and then solidifies across the feed throught.
• Must have adequate cooling in throat area. (Temp between 80F
and 120F)
– Injection Cylinder Nozzle Zone
• Heated with a heater band (Fig 4-4) usually one band.
• Temperature should be same as (or 10F higher) the melt temp
• Example,
– PC suggested melt temperature is 550F (288 C).
• Checking temperature of melt via a surface pyrometer
– Inject outside of mold with a purge shot and stick probe in hot plastic
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Injection Molding Parameters
• Melt Temperature (Table III-1. Suggested Melt Temp at nozzle)
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Acetal (coploymer)
Acrylic
ABS
Liquid Crystal Polymer
Nylon 6
Polyamide-imide
Polyarylate
Polycarbonate
Polyetheretherketone
Polyethylene LDPE
Polyethylene HDPE
Polypropylene
Polystyrene
Thermoplastic polyester (PBT)
Urethane elastomer
400 F
425 F
400 F
500 F
500 F
650 F
700 F
550 F
720 F
325 F
350 F
350 F
350 F
425 F
425 F
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Injection Molding Parameters
• Temperature
– Injection Cylinder Front Zone
• Controlled by a series of heater bands (usually 3 to 6 bands)
• Located directly behind the nozzle and consists of the first third
of the total length of the heating cylinder.
• Proper temperature 10 to 20F less than nozzle temp.
• Example, PC should be 530 to 540 F
– Injection Cylinder Center Zone
• Controlled by a series of heater bands (usually 3 to 6 bands)
• Located directly behind the front and consists of the second
third of the total length of the heating cylinder.
• Proper temperature is the average of the front and the rear zone.
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• Example, PC should be 500F
Injection Molding Parameters
• Temperature
– Injection Cylinder Rear Zone
• Controlled by a series of heater bands (usually 3 to 6 bands)
• Located directly below the feed throat and consists of the last
third of the total length of the heating cylinder.
• Proper temperature 15% less than the front zone.
• Example, PC should be 459F or 460F
• Then the center zone should be the average of 538F and 460F
or 500F
– Insulation Jackets
• Placed around injection barrel. Can save 25% electricity
– Preheating Material
• Good practice with the use of a dryer to minimize shock. 14
Mold Temperatures
• Temperature Control provided with flow cooling or
heating channels (Figure 4-9.
• Cooling process
– Coolant is passed through tubes in mold that removes
heat from the hot plastic as it is flowing in mold.
– Design of cooling channels,
• diameter of tube,
• number and location of channels, and
• distance between the channels and the surface of the mold
– Critical to the performance of the molded part
– Use Mold Cool Analysis in Moldflow Dynamic or C15
Mold Advanced Series
Injection Molding Parameters
• Mold Temperature Control (A and B Sides within 10F)
– Cascades (Bubblers) (Figure 4-10)
• Used when have a deep metal core, molds for waste baskets
• The cooling medium (water) comes from the main cooling
channel, enters at the bottom of the bubbler, flows up through
an inner tube, cascades inside the unit, and flows down through
an outer tube, exiting into the main cooling channel.
– Cooling Pins (Figure 4-11)
• Heat is transferred from the plastic to the highly conductive
cooling pin (BeCu).
– Insulation Sheets
• Insulation sheets mounted on the outside surfaces of mold.
• 1/4in to 1/2in thick plates of fiberglass sheets.
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• Can save 25% if mounted on all 6 sides of mold
Injection Molding Parameters
• Temperature (Table III-1. Suggested Melt Temperatures at nozzle)
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Acetal (coploymer)
Acrylic
ABS
Cellulose acetate
Ethylene vinyl acetate
Liquid Crystal Polymer
Nylon 6
Polyamide-imide
Polyarylate
Polycarbonate
Polyetheretherketone
Polyethylene LDPE
Polyethylene HDPE
Polypropylene
• Polystyrene
400 F
425 F
400 F
385 F
350 F
500 F
500 F
650 F
700 F
550 F
720 F
325 F
350 F
350 F
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350 F
Injection Molding Parameters
• Cooling Related to Cycle times
– In general, Temp should be set to guide in Table III-2
– Guidelines for any given wall thickness
• If wall thickness doubles, the cooling time increases by 4 times
– Example, If thickness is 0.040in requires 3 sec to cool, then if the wall is
increase to 0.080in, the cooling time would require 12 sec.
– Example, likewise if thickness is reduced, the square rule applies
• Figure 4-12 Average Cooling time versus thickness
• Cooling related to standard Runners
– Runners can be a controlling factor in cooling times.
• Need to be rigid enough to demold
• Usually Diameter is 1/16” to 1/4” diameter in thickness.
• Plastic cools from outside surface to inside
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Injection Molding Parameters
• Cooling related to standard Runners
– Runners can be a controlling factor in cooling times.
• Cooling time for runners is usually longer than part. (Fig 4-12)
• Ways to improve performance
– Have cavity images placed close as possible to the sprue in the mold.
– This reduces length of runner and allows for smaller diameter
– Make sure the hole diameter at the large end of the sprue bushing is no
larger that required
• Rule of thumb (diameter of sprue)
– Diameter of runner should provide same cross sectional area as the total
of all runners coming to it.
» Example, (Figure 4-13) radius = 0.060 in each runner
» Area of runners = r2 = 3.14 (0.06)2 + 3.14(0.06)2 = 0.00566 in2
» Diameter of sprue = Area = r2 = Diameter =0.085 in
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– This ensures that there is always enough material being fed to the
runners by the sprue to keep equal pressure on those runners
Injection Molding Parameters
• Cooling related to Hot runners
– One that is kept molten during the molding process and
thus does not require cooling time allowance. (Fig 4-14)
– Molten plastic enters the mold through a special bushing ,
similar to the standard runner (with special heaters to
maintain the molten state of the plastic all of the way to
the cavity image.
– Just before it gets tot the cavity image, the plastic flows
through a special nozzle that allows material to flow until
the cavity is filled, then shuts off and keeps the plastic
molten ready for next cycle.
– Costs are typically 40% to the cost of the mold
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– Results in shorter cycle time and less material usage.
Injection Molding Parameters
• Machine and Oil Temperatures
– Machine Temperature of the hydraulic oil
– Desired range is 80F and 120F
• Too cold, the oil is sluggish due to higher viscosity
• Too hot, the oil has thermal breakdown
– Heat Exchanger
• Provide enough cooling to provide proper temperature
• Can build up with rust, scale, minerals.
– Scale buildup of 1/64in can result in 40% loss of efficiency
• Should be cleaned monthly with acid-flush unit (portable)
– Ambient Temperatures
• Can affect mold temp, hydraulic temp, cycle time, quality, cost
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• Ideal settings are: 68 to 79F and 30 to 50% Relative Humidity
Optimizing Pressure
• Injection Unit
– Injection Pressure (Figure 4-15)
• Applied to the molten plastic and resulting from the main
hydraulic pressure pushing against the back end of the injection
screw (or plunger).
• Usually 1,000 psi to 5,000 psi
• Lower than hold and pack pressure which be between 10,000psi
and 20,000 psi
• Calculated from line or hydraulic pressure
• Example,
pump _ P  area _ of _ ram
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Pinj  injection _ P 
2000 psi on a
area _ of _ screw
8 in diam hydraulic Pinj  2000 psi (r 2 )  2000 psi ( (4in ) 2 )  100,000lbs
( (1.25in ) 2 )
5in 2
with a 2.5in screw
What is the injection pressure?
 20,000 psi
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Pressure Control
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Pressure Control
• Injection unit (continued)
– Hold pressure (pack pressure)
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Used to finish the filling of the mold and pack the part.
Rule of thumb: Hold pressure = 50% of injection pressure.
Hold pressure applied against a pad or cushion of material.
Applied at the end of the initial injection stroke, (Figure 3-5),
and is intended to complete the final filling of the mold and
hold pressure to solidify while staying dense or packed.
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Pressure Control
• Injection unit (continued)
– Back pressure
• Applied after the injection phases are complete.
• When holding pressure is complete the screw begins to turn in
order to bring new material to the front of the barrel in
preparation for next shot.
• As material fills the cavity, the screw is pushed back (Fig 3-6).
• Back pressure is small compared to injection pressure (between
50 psi and 500 psi (screw may not turn if exceeded).
• Procedure is to start with small amount of back pressure and
steadily increase in increments of 10 psi.
• Back pressure
– Ensures consistency in part weight, density, and material appearance.
– Squeezes out any trapped air or moisture.
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– Minimizes voids in molded parts.
• Clamp Unit
Pressure Control
– The purpose of developing clamp pressure is to keep the
mold clamped shut against the forces developed when the
injection pressure pushes plastic into the closed mold.
– Clamp pressure is applied mechanically or hydraulically
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Pressure Control
• Pressure Required
– Total clamp force is determined by projected area.
– Total force = projected area times injection pressure
– Rule of thumb 4 to 5 tons/in2 can be used for most
plastics.
– Example, (Figure 4-18 and 4-19)
10 in
• Part is 10 in by 10 in by 0.1 in
• Projected area is all of the sides of the cube.
– Neglect 0.1 in thickness.
– Surface area = 10in x 10 in = 100 in2
10 in
• Pressure = 15,000 psi for PC
• Tonnage required to keep mold closed is
– 100 in2 x 15,000 psi= 1,500,000 lbs = 750 tons (note : 2000 lbs27= 1
Shrinkage
• Controlling Shrinkage is the best way to control warpage
• All plastic materials have shrinkage value
– Shrinkage (or shrink rate) is a value to predict how much the
plastic part will reduce in size after it cools down.
• Shrinkage is measured by inches (or cm) per inches (or cm)
of linear length in all 3 dimensions.
– Plastics shrink ranges from 0.000 in/in to 0.050 in/in
– Shrinkage IS the same in all 3 directions (x,y,z) for most polymers
(isotropic = same property in all 3 directions)
– Shrinkage is NOT the same (anisotropic) in 3 directions (x,y,z) for
polymers (thermoplastics and themosets) with glass fibers where
shrinkage is less in direction of flow than transverse
– Crystalline materials have high shrinkage rates than amorphous
– Crystalline materials have greater shrinkage in flow direction28than
in across the direction of flow (Figure 4-22)
Shrinkage
• Molds have to be built larger to account for reduced size.
• Shrinkage is like a % reduction, (Figure 4-20)
– e.g., 0.02 = 2% shrink, 0.005 = 0.5% shrink
• Example,
– Shrinkage of 0.010 in/in, what is effect on part that is 6 in long?
– Multiply shrink value by each part dimension (L W H), or for 6 in
part, shrink will be 0.010 in/in x 6 in = 0.060 inches.
– Thus, mold would have to be 0.060 inches bigger, for part to cool
down and shrink to 6.0 inches.
– (Figure 4-21) For mold of dimensions, 6.060 in by 0.505 in, the
final part dimension will be 6.0 in by 0.5 in, since it will shrink
0.060 in (6in x 0.010 in/in = 0.060in) in one direction and 0.005 in
(.5in x 0.010in/in = 0.005 in) in other dimension.
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Process Effects on Shrinkage
• Temperature
– Higher the plastic temperature, the greater the amount of shrinkage
because the activity of the plastic molecules is temp dependent.
– Increasing Barrel temperature 10% can increase shrinkage 10%
• Example, If shrink rate (or shrinkage) is 0.005 in/in at a barrel temp of 500F,
then decreasing barrel temp to 450F, can decrease shrinkage to 0.0045.
• Example, If shrinkage is 0.010 in/in and parts are too big with a barrel temp
of 400 F, then increasing barrel temp to 440F, can increase shrinkage 10% to
0.011 in/in and help make the part smaller and fit better.
– Mold temperature can affect shrinkage. Hot mold will create less
shrinkage because a co mold solidifies the plastic skin sooner than
a hot mold resulting in a shrinking of a plastic before full injection
pressure is applied.
• Hot mold allows molecules to continue to move and be compressed by
injection pressures before solidifying resulting in less shrinkage.
– Rule of thumb: 10% mold change = 5% shrinkage change
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Process Effects on Shrinkage
• Pressure
– Injection Pressure has direct effect on shrinkage
• Higher injection pressure, the lower the shrinkage due to packing.
• Rule of thumb: 10% change in pressure can cause 10% change in shrinkage
• Pressure has to applied until part cools down to solidification
• Postmold Shrinkage
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Lower the desired amount of shrinkage requires longer cycle times
95% of cooling and shrinkage takes place within 5 min of molding.
Some parts can shrink and warp up to one month after molding.
Post molded shrinkage is controlled by quenching parts or placing
in full fixtures.
– Figure 4-23
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Minimizing Stresses
• Defining stress (Fig. 4-24)
– Biggest molding problem besides contamination.
– Heat cycle: Plastics go from melt to rubbery to glassy states
– Differential shrinkage due to different temperatures in part causes
buildup of stresses and results in warpage.
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Minimizing Stresses
• Product design (Fig. 4-25)
– Draft angles
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Amount of taper required to allow the proper ejection of a molded part
Typical draft = 2º per side.
Minimum draft = 1º
Smaller the draft the more difficulty in demolding part.
– Draft angles alter dimensions of part (Fig 4-26)
• For every 1º of draft, the dimension increases by 0.017 in per side for a part
up to 1 in deep. Additional 0.017 in per side for additional inch.
– No draft consequences (Fig 4-27)
• Vacuum due to molding causes part to stick in mold.
– Uniform Walls (figure 4-28
• Non-uniform wall thickness creates molded in stresses
• Non-uniform walls results in temp differences causing stresses
– Rounded corners (Figure 4-29 and 4-30) (Fig 4-31, Fig 4-32)33
• Square corners cause material to be stretched and stresses
Drying Material Importance
• Moisture can cause defects in molded plastic parts.
– Water turns into steam during molding
• Hygroscopic materials
– Materials absorb moisture from surrounding atmosphere
• Nylon, ABS, and PC
– Dried at 275F for 2 to 3 hours. Some Nylons require 24 hours
• Most engineering resin should be dried at 275 for 4 hours
– Nylon, PBT, PET, PC, ABS, PEEK
• Hydrophyllic materials
– Materials do not absorb moisture and generally do require drying
• LDPE, HDPE, PP, PS ---- Refer to Mfg recommendations
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