Systems and methods for controlling the closing speed of valve gated nozzles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hot runner have a valve gated nozzle including a valve stem movable between an open position and a closed position is provided. The valve stem is moved at a first speed for a first portion of valve stem closure and a second speed for a second end portion of the valve stem closure.

A motor control device. When the motor control device executes pressure control of which a minor loop is speed control or position control, the pressure control is executed in a manner that pressurization or depressurization is performed while a control parameter of the speed control is fixed; a control parameter of the pressure control is gradually increased; an oscillation amount is successively detected and stored. If the oscillation amount exceeds an acceptable value, on the basis of the control parameter of the pressure control and the oscillation amount stored during adjustment, the control parameter of the pressure control is adjusted such that the oscillation amount is equal to or less than the acceptable value.

An injection molding machine uses a native controller and a retrofit controller to effectively control its operation. The controllers may determine and/or receive information regarding the machine's maximum load capacity, and may also determine a current operational load value of the machine. The retrofit controller may cause the machine to operate at any number of combinations of settings of operational parameters which result in the machine operating at or below the maximum load value by adjusting any number of machine parameters associated with the injection molding machine based on feedback sensors measuring real-time operating conditions of the machine.

An injection molding machine uses a native controller and a retrofit controller to effectively control its operation. The controllers may determine and/or receive information regarding the machine's maximum load capacity, and may also determine a current operational load value of the machine. The retrofit controller may cause the machine to operate at any number of combinations of settings of operational parameters which result in the machine operating at or below the maximum load value by adjusting any number of machine parameters associated with the injection molding machine based on feedback sensors measuring real-time operating conditions of the machine.

In order to reduce oscillations in process variables of an injection molding process, a variable-gain proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is utilized to control one or more of the process variables. The injection molding system may also include a tuning controller to automatically tune at least one of the proportional, integral, or derivative gains within a mold cycle. The tuning controller may obtain sensor data that monitors the operation of the injection molding machine to determine an adjustment to at least one of the proportional, integral, or derivative gains. The tuning controller may adjust the gains of the variable-gain PID controller in accordance with the determined adjustment to the at least one of the proportional, integral, or derivative gains.

In order to reduce oscillations in process variables of an injection molding process, a variable-gain proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is utilized to control one or more of the process variables. The injection molding system may also include a tuning controller to automatically tune at least one of the proportional, integral, or derivative gains within a mold cycle. The tuning controller may obtain sensor data that monitors the operation of the injection molding machine to determine an adjustment to at least one of the proportional, integral, or derivative gains. The tuning controller may adjust the gains of the variable-gain PID controller in accordance with the determined adjustment to the at least one of the proportional, integral, or derivative gains.

An adaptive control device and adaptive control method, and a control device of an injection molding machine, which allow optimal adaptive control to be performed automatically and easily, while preventing a degradation of responsiveness. The adaptive control device is configured to perform feedback control in such a manner that an operation value is output based on a command value and a feedback value which is a sum of a controlled value output from a controlled target and a compensation value output from a parallel feed-forward compensator; wherein the parallel feed-forward compensator includes: an identification section which sequentially estimates a frequency response characteristic of the controlled target and an adjustment section which adjusts the compensation value based on the estimated frequency response characteristic.

An adaptive control device and adaptive control method, and a control device of an injection molding machine, which allow optimal adaptive control to be performed automatically and easily, while preventing a degradation of responsiveness. The adaptive control device is configured to perform feedback control in such a manner that an operation value is output based on a command value and a feedback value which is a sum of a controlled value output from a controlled target and a compensation value output from a parallel feed-forward compensator; wherein the parallel feed-forward compensator includes: an identification section which sequentially estimates a frequency response characteristic of the controlled target and an adjustment section which adjusts the compensation value based on the estimated frequency response characteristic.

A method of molding a thermosetting resin, in particular of the epoxy resin type, in which a first mold is filled with the resin while causing the temperature of the resin to vary in application of a first temperature program, without exceeding the Tg of the resin. After the first mold has been filled, the resin is put under pressure while causing the temperature of the resin to vary in application of a second temperature program, without exceeding Tg, and a drop in the pressure exerted by the resin on the mold is detected with the instant at which this pressure presents a break of slope being identified as the instant t1. A second mold is filled with the thermosetting resin in application of the first temperature program. After the second mold has been filled, the resin is put under pressure in application of the second temperature program until an instant t2 close to t1. As from t2, the temperature of the resin is increased to exceed Tg.

A method of molding a thermosetting resin, in particular of the epoxy resin type, in which a first mold is filled with the resin while causing the temperature of the resin to vary in application of a first temperature program, without exceeding the Tg of the resin. After the first mold has been filled, the resin is put under pressure while causing the temperature of the resin to vary in application of a second temperature program, without exceeding Tg, and a drop in the pressure exerted by the resin on the mold is detected with the instant at which this pressure presents a break of slope being identified as the instant t1. A second mold is filled with the thermosetting resin in application of the first temperature program. After the second mold has been filled, the resin is put under pressure in application of the second temperature program until an instant t2 close to t1. As from t2, the temperature of the resin is increased to exceed Tg.