Disclosed herein are systems and methods for efficiently and economically manufacturing molded polymer products such as those that require a two-shot, two-material injection molding process, with complex geometries and incorporate metal components such as inserts. The systems and methods include compact manufacturing cells and processes of operating such manufacturing cells. The manufacturing cells include a single injection molding machine with two molds arranged to simultaneously operate both molds. The manufacturing cell is arranged to be fully automated so that it is operative without the need for intervention or management from dedicated personnel. Such automation includes the automated sorting and placement of metal inserts into the injection molding machine, the automated removal of the product after the first molding stage and second molding stage, the automated inspection of every finished product, the automated sorting of conforming and rejected products, and the automated packaging of finished product for shipment to end user.

Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a first configuration and a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include obtaining a pattern for a portion of an injection cycle of an injection molding machine having a second configuration and operating the injection molding machine having the first configuration to inject a molten material into the mold cavity. While operating the injection molding machine having the first configuration, the obtained pattern is used to control a portion of the injection cycle.

A method of performing an injection cycle having a duration comprising: beginning the injection cycle with the valve pins associated with two or more nozzles in a gate closed position, selecting a first one of the two or more nozzles and controllably driving its associated valve pin from the gate closed position to a selected first axial upstream position, upon downstream flow of the injection fluid through a cavity the preselected distance, controllably driving the valve pin associated with the other of the two or more nozzles to a selected second axial position upstream, holding or controllably driving the valve pin associated with the first one of the two or more nozzles in or to one or more reduced flow axial upstream positions that are partially closed.

An injection molding system includes: an injection molding machine where a shaping mold is installed; a material supply device supplying a material to the injection molding machine; a temperature controller controlling a temperature of the shaping mold; a dryer drying a material stored in the material supply device; a controller controlling the injection molding machine; and a casing. The injection molding machine, the material supply device, the temperature controller, the dryer, and the controller are provided inside the casing. The casing has a caster and is configured to be movable.

A method of determining a target value of a state variable includes preparing a mixture of the molding material and the gas with different test values of the state variable, and the mixture is respectively compressed or decompressed. In the compression or decompression step, the state variable of the mixture and/or a further state variable of the mixture is measured directly or indirectly, and determination values of a compression behavior variable characteristic of the compression behavior of the mixture are determined from the measurement values. A criterion directed to a solution state of the gas is checked, and a lowest or highest value of the state variable is deduced at which the gas is in solution in the molding material. The lowest or highest value of the state variable at which the gas is in solution in the molding material is used as the target value.

A method of performing an injection cycle having a duration comprising: beginning the injection cycle with the valve pins associated with two or more nozzles in a gate closed position, selecting a first one of the two or more nozzles and controllably driving its associated valve pin from the gate closed position to a selected first axial upstream position, upon downstream flow of the injection fluid through a cavity the preselected distance, controllably driving the valve pin associated with the other of the two or more nozzles to a selected second axial position upstream, holding or controllably driving the valve pin associated with the first one of the two or more nozzles in or to one or more reduced flow axial upstream positions that are partially closed.

A method of performing an injection cycle having a duration comprising: beginning the injection cycle with the valve pins associated with two or more nozzles in a gate closed position, selecting a first one of the two or more nozzles and controllably driving its associated valve pin from the gate closed position to a selected first axial upstream position, upon downstream flow of the injection fluid through a cavity the preselected distance, controllably driving the valve pin associated with the other of the two or more nozzles to a selected second axial position upstream, holding or controllably driving the valve pin associated with the first one of the two or more nozzles in or to one or more reduced flow axial upstream positions that are partially closed.

Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure are directed to external sensor kits that may be included in new injection molds or retrofitted into existing injection molds in order to approximate conditions within a mold, such as pressure or the location of a melt flow front. Such kits are designed to amplify meaningful measurements obtained by the external sensor kit so that noise measurements do not prevent the approximation of conditions within a mold. In some embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure, an external sensor kit includes a strain gauge sensor, a coupon, a support bracket, and a hammer. The strain gauge sensor is placed on a surface of the coupon and measures the strain in the coupon.

Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure are directed to external sensor kits that may be included in new injection molds or retrofitted into existing injection molds in order to approximate conditions within a mold, such as pressure or the location of a melt flow front. Such kits are designed to amplify meaningful measurements obtained by the external sensor kit so that noise measurements do not prevent the approximation of conditions within a mold. In some embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure, an external sensor kit includes a strain gauge sensor, a coupon, a support bracket, and a hammer. The strain gauge sensor is placed on a surface of the coupon and measures the strain in the coupon.

An injection molding machine device includes at least two guide rods. One end of each guide rod is fixed to a rack, and the other end of each guide rod is fixed to a fixed base body. A movable base body is provided opposite to the fixed base body. The movable base body slides along the guide rods relative to the fixed base body. At least one correction mechanism is located between the movable base body and the guide rail to adjust a movement of the movable base body in a vertical direction. A predetermined clearance value and/or a predetermined contact force value exist between the components. At least one sensor is electrically connected to a controller. The controller correspondingly controls the correction mechanism by determining whether corresponding detecting values of the sensor match with the predetermined clearance values and/or the predetermined contact force values.