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.

A method of detecting and compensating for a non-operational mold cavity in an injection molding apparatus having a plurality of mold cavities and an injection molding screw or ram includes injecting, via the injection molding screw or ram, a molten thermoplastic material into the plurality of mold cavities. The method includes measuring a first process parameter of the injection molding apparatus at a pre-determined time during or after the injecting. The method also includes determining, based on the first process parameter, whether one or more mold cavities of the plurality of mold cavities are non-operational. Then, when it is determined that one or more mold cavities are non-operational, the method includes automatically adjusting the first process parameter or a second process parameter of the injection molding apparatus.

A method of detecting and compensating for a non-operational mold cavity in an injection molding apparatus having a plurality of mold cavities and an injection molding screw or ram includes injecting, via the injection molding screw or ram, a molten thermoplastic material into the plurality of mold cavities. The method includes measuring a first process parameter of the injection molding apparatus at a pre-determined time during or after the injecting. The method also includes determining, based on the first process parameter, whether one or more mold cavities of the plurality of mold cavities are non-operational. Then, when it is determined that one or more mold cavities are non-operational, the method includes automatically adjusting the first process parameter or a second process parameter of the injection molding apparatus.

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 injecting a molten polymer into the mold cavity according to a startup profile. A first sensor is used to measure at least one variable during the startup profile. The startup profile is terminated upon the at least one variable exceeding a first threshold. The molten polymer is then injected into the mold cavity according to a primary injection profile.

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 injecting a molten polymer into the mold cavity according to a startup profile. A first sensor is used to measure at least one variable during the startup profile. The startup profile is terminated upon the at least one variable exceeding a first threshold. The molten polymer is then injected into the mold cavity according to a primary injection profile.

An injection molding apparatus includes a plasticizing portion, a measurement injection portion that is disposed between the plasticizing portion and a molding mold, measures the plasticized material, and injects the measured plasticized material into the molding mold, a first drive portion changing a relative position between the plasticizing portion and the measurement injection portion, a pressure detection portion detecting a pressure inside the measurement injection portion and a control portion, in which the measurement injection portion is configured such that a volume of an internal space thereof, in which the plasticized material is stored, changes according to a change in the relative position between the measurement injection portion and the plasticizing portion, and the control portion executes at least one of a measurement operation of causing the measurement injection portion to measure the plasticized material by controlling the first drive portion to move the plasticizing portion and the measurement injection portion in a direction away from each other, and an injection operation of injecting the measured plasticized material into the molding mold by controlling the first drive portion to move the plasticizing portion and the measurement injection portion in a direction approaching each other depending on the pressure.

An injection molding apparatus includes a plasticizing portion, a measurement injection portion that is disposed between the plasticizing portion and a molding mold, measures the plasticized material, and injects the measured plasticized material into the molding mold, a first drive portion changing a relative position between the plasticizing portion and the measurement injection portion, a pressure detection portion detecting a pressure inside the measurement injection portion and a control portion, in which the measurement injection portion is configured such that a volume of an internal space thereof, in which the plasticized material is stored, changes according to a change in the relative position between the measurement injection portion and the plasticizing portion, and the control portion executes at least one of a measurement operation of causing the measurement injection portion to measure the plasticized material by controlling the first drive portion to move the plasticizing portion and the measurement injection portion in a direction away from each other, and an injection operation of injecting the measured plasticized material into the molding mold by controlling the first drive portion to move the plasticizing portion and the measurement injection portion in a direction approaching each other depending on the pressure.

A monitoring apparatus for molds includes a control unit connectable to a first and second sensor associable with the mold and configured for emitting respective signals representative of a deformation parameter and temperature parameter of the mold. The control unit, in order to define an alert condition, is configured for: defining a value of a threshold parameter as a function of the temperature of the mold and comparing such value of the deformation parameter with a value of a threshold parameter defined as a function of the temperature of the mold; or normalizing, at a reference temperature, the value of the deformation parameter determined at the temperature of the mold and comparing a value of a threshold parameter, defined at the reference temperature, with the value of the normalized deformation parameter at the same reference temperature. Also forming the object of the present invention is a monitoring method and a data medium.

A monitoring apparatus for molds includes a control unit connectable to a first and second sensor associable with the mold and configured for emitting respective signals representative of a deformation parameter and temperature parameter of the mold. The control unit, in order to define an alert condition, is configured for: defining a value of a threshold parameter as a function of the temperature of the mold and comparing such value of the deformation parameter with a value of a threshold parameter defined as a function of the temperature of the mold; or normalizing, at a reference temperature, the value of the deformation parameter determined at the temperature of the mold and comparing a value of a threshold parameter, defined at the reference temperature, with the value of the normalized deformation parameter at the same reference temperature. Also forming the object of the present invention is a monitoring method and a data medium.

There is provided an injection mold system and a method for injection molding to produce a three-dimensional object. The system including: one or more extruders each adapted to receive one or more cartridges, the one or more cartridges containing extrudable material; an injection nozzle dimensioned to be positioned into an injection inlet of a mold; tubing each connecting one of the cartridges to the injection nozzle; and one or more controllers configured to control flow of the extrudable material from the one or more extruders to the injection nozzle to fill at least a portion of the interior chamber with the extrudable material to produce the three-dimensional object.