In-line process monitoring for injection moulding control

Abstract

Injection moulding is one of the most important and efficient manufacturing techniques for polymeric materials, with the capability to manufacture high value added products. Integration of injection moulding machines into a computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) system requires reliable process monitoring allowing statistical process control (SPC) to be implemented. CIM systems are concerned with computer control and linking together of all functions in the manufacturing environment. Successful implementation of CIM requires accurate, reliable and meaningful information relating to all aspects of the manufacturing process. Hydraulic injection pressure measurements are shown to be important process parameters, indicating, with comparable precision to nozzle melt pressure, relative changes in polymer melt viscosity.