A method for evaluating and/or visualizing a process state of a production system, which contains at least one cyclically operating shaping machine, includes: continuously or at discrete times, determining the value of a plurality of selected process variables, and comparing the current value of each selected process variable and or a variable derived therefrom with one or more reference values by means a computing unit, and determining a deviation or a rate of change. Each selected process variable is assigned to at least one logical group by the computing unit; at least two different logical groups are provided; and for each logical group, a state of the logical group is evaluated by the computing unit based on the process variables assigned to the logical group and/or is visualized by a display device.

A process for resin transfer molding (RTM) with staggered injection of a resin is provided that injects resin into a plurality of injection ports of a mold. The temperature and pressure applied to the mold are controlled during injection to limit promote rapid filling of the mold cavity. The injection ports are activated for injecting the resin in any order of individually, in groups, or pairings. Fibers are readily added to the mold separately or within the resin. Cycle times of from 1 to 5 minutes are provided for the process.

A system for programming a protection device for a molding machine includes a controller for actuating a plurality of molding machine actuators in an actuation sequence, each distinct actuation constituting a respective machine component actuation of an associated machine component. An HMI is operable to: present a GUI specific to a chosen machine component actuation; and for each of a plurality of other machine component actuations, define within the GUI, based on operator input, a rule specifying a state of the chosen machine component actuation relative to a state of the other machine component actuation for preventing interference between the two machine component actuations. The controller is configured, based on the rules defined within the GUI, to trigger an action, upon violation of any one of the rules, for reducing a risk of interference between the chosen machine component actuation and a respective one of the other machine component actuations.

A method for operating an injection-molding machine, including the steps: a) in a current injection-molding cycle, after an accepted-part reference injection-molding cycle learned in a learning phase: detecting a compound pressure change k.sub.1 relative to an accepted-part reference compound pressure p.sub.masse, ref during at least part of an injection phase of the current injection-molding cycle by measuring a current compound pressure p.sub.masse, act and comparing the current compound pressure p with the accepted-part reference compound pressure p.sub.masse, ref, b) determining a target mold internal pressure curve p.sub.wkz,soll (1) for a holding-pressure phase of the current injection-molding cycle, wherein for this purpose a mold internal pressure curve p.sub.wkz,ref (t) of the accepted-part reference injection-molding cycle is adjusted at least in dependence on the compound pressure change k.sub.1 detected in step a), and c) traveling the holding-pressure curve p.sub.masse, Hld, act (t) of the current injection-molding cycle in such a way that an actual mold internal pressure curve pwkz,act (0 of the current injection-molding cycle runs at least more closely along the target mold internal pressure curve p.sub.wkz,soll (t) than a mold internal pressure curve p.sub.wkz,ref(t) that is unchanged in comparison with the accepted-part reference cycle.

Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a mold forming a mold cavity include feeding a molten polymer into a barrel containing a screw disposed in a first position, advancing the screw a first instance, from the first position to a second position, to inject the molten polymer into the mold cavity to form a molded part, and ejecting a first molded part or a first set of molded parts from the mold cavity. Further, the screw is advanced a second instance, from the second position to a third position, to inject the molten polymer into the mold cavity to form an additional molded part. A second molded part or a second set of molded parts is ejected from the mold cavity. After the second advancing instance, a recovery profile is commenced in which the screw is returned to the first position.

Systems and approaches for determining design of experiment parameters using largest empty area rectangle optimization for an injection molding system. The systems and methods include obtaining pressure versus time data sets indicative of fill step pressures and corresponding fill step times for a plurality of mold cycles and defining a low and high pressure versus time curves from the data sets, with the low and high pressure versus time curves being two surfaces of a geometric shape. The systems and methods further include identifying a top surface and a bottom surface of the geometric shape; identifying a rectangle having the largest area of all rectangles contained within the first geometric shape; and generating design of experiment parameters from the largest area rectangle.

Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include extruding a molten polymer according to an extrusion profile and measuring at least one variable during the extrusion profile with a first sensor. At least one extrusion operational parameter is adjusted based on the measured variable. The extrusion profile is terminated upon the molten polymer exceeding a first threshold, and the molten polymer is injected into the mold cavity according to an injection profile via a screw that moves from a first position to a second position. Upon completion of the injection profile, a recovery profile commences in which the screw is moved to the first position.

A control device for an injection molding machine includes: a pressure acquiring unit for acquiring resin pressure; an injection control unit for injecting resin into a mold; an ejector control unit for protruding an ejector pin before the resin pressure reaches a predetermined target pressure; and an insertion control unit for causing a supporting member and an attachment plate to support an ejector plate by inserting the supporting member into a gap before the resin pressure reached the predetermined target pressure.

An apparatus and method for establishing triggers for the opening of one or multiple gates to a mold cavity of an injection molding system, followed by a sequence of predetermined valve pin movements over the course on an injection cycle. In one embodiment, the invention provides a graphical user interface and control system enabling a user to select from and arrange a plurality of virtual icons into a user-defined virtual sequence that define associated triggering events and actuator controlled pin movements over the course of an injection cycle. In various embodiments, the apparatus and method allows the system operator to view a simulated profile of such triggers and movements and to compare the simulated profile to an actual profile to access differences and make adjustments to the triggers and sequencing more quickly and efficiently. This is particularly useful in sequential molding systems where multiple gates need to be programmed and adjusted to compensate for variations from a predetermined sequence.

A system for production of a thermoplastic injection molding material granulate has at least one production unit for the production of a fiber reinforced plastic granulate from a thermoplastic granulate and natural fibers. to the system has at least one heat-treatment unit for the treatment of the fiber-reinforced plastic granulate providing heat such that an outer layer of each heated granulate grain of the fiber-reinforced plastic granulate is at least partially converted to a liquid physical state. The system has at least one applicator unit for applying a chemical foaming agent powder to at least some portions of each heated granulate grain, where the heat treatment unit is equipped to carry out the heat treatment such that a temperature of the molten outer layer of the respective granulate grain is below a reaction temperature of the foaming agent.