Injection molding thermoplastic, thermoset plastic or RTV silicone? Each requires a different approach to mold heating and cooling. Thermoplastics get shot into hot molds. Then the mold is cooled just enough so that the parts won't distort when they're ejected. Thermoset plastics need different mold temperatures during injection, then (IIRC) the mold temp is increased to the point where the plastic sets, and the mold doesn't have to be cooled as much before ejection because thermosets don't melt a second time.
RTV silicones have to be shot into cold molds. Then the mold is heated up to make the chemical reaction work faster. Cooling can start with ejection to speed up cycle times. Injection mold heating and cooling systems require a lot of capacity, and the mold materials have to withstand millions of cycles of high speed temperature transitions. An LCNC based process control would make such operations easier by having machine profiles for each mold and material combination's heat/cool cycle. On this list we've seen some non-machining uses for LCNC, like an automated induction heat treating system for engine camshafts. No reason it can't be put to use controlling injection mold temperatures. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, SlashDot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
