An injection molding hot runner system adapted for leak detection during injection molding includes a manifold and a housing surrounding the manifold, wherein the manifold and the housing are spaced apart defining one or more pockets, the manifold comprises at least one junction point establishing a connection to a component attached to the manifold, wherein at the at least one junction point a sensor is located in the pocket, wherein the sensor is configured to indicate a leak when getting in contact with the molten plastic due to a leak at the junction point.

An injection molding hot runner system adapted for leak detection during injection molding includes a manifold and a housing surrounding the manifold, wherein the manifold and the housing are spaced apart defining one or more pockets, the manifold comprises at least one junction point establishing a connection to a component attached to the manifold, wherein at the at least one junction point a sensor is located in the pocket, wherein the sensor is configured to indicate a leak when getting in contact with the molten plastic due to a leak at the junction point.

A plasticizing apparatus, includes: a drive motor; a rotor that is rotated around a rotation axis by the drive motor and that has a groove forming surface on which a groove is formed; a barrel that has a facing surface facing the groove forming surface and that includes a communication hole in the facing surface; a heating portion that heats a material supplied to between the groove and the barrel; and a controller that controls the drive motor and the heating portion to plasticize the material supplied to between the groove and the barrel and discharge the material from the communication hole, the facing surface includes a first region and a second region that is closer to the communication hole than is the first region, the controller controls the heating portion to set a temperature of the second region to be higher than a temperature of the first region, and the controller controls the heating portion to reduce a temperature difference between the first region and the second region when the material includes a crystalline resin as compared with a case where the material includes an amorphous resin.

A plasticizing apparatus, includes: a drive motor; a rotor that is rotated around a rotation axis by the drive motor and that has a groove forming surface on which a groove is formed; a barrel that has a facing surface facing the groove forming surface and that includes a communication hole in the facing surface; a heating portion that heats a material supplied to between the groove and the barrel; and a controller that controls the drive motor and the heating portion to plasticize the material supplied to between the groove and the barrel and discharge the material from the communication hole, the facing surface includes a first region and a second region that is closer to the communication hole than is the first region, the controller controls the heating portion to set a temperature of the second region to be higher than a temperature of the first region, and the controller controls the heating portion to reduce a temperature difference between the first region and the second region when the material includes a crystalline resin as compared with a case where the material includes an amorphous resin.

A mold system and method for forming a casting article for investment casting is disclosed. The mold system includes a mold for receiving therein a selected core chosen from a plurality of varied cores. The mold includes a plurality of separable mold portions that are coupleable together to create the mold and configured to form a sacrificial material from a sacrificial material fluid about the selected core. At least one selected separable mold portion of the plurality of separable mold portions includes a set of varied interchangeable versions of the at least one selected separable mold portion. Each varied interchangeable version of the selected separable mold portion is configured to accommodate a different core of the plurality of varied cores. A number of systems for controlling a temperature of the mold are also disclosed.

A mold system and method for forming a casting article for investment casting is disclosed. The mold system includes a mold for receiving therein a selected core chosen from a plurality of varied cores. The mold includes a plurality of separable mold portions that are coupleable together to create the mold and configured to form a sacrificial material from a sacrificial material fluid about the selected core. At least one selected separable mold portion of the plurality of separable mold portions includes a set of varied interchangeable versions of the at least one selected separable mold portion. Each varied interchangeable version of the selected separable mold portion is configured to accommodate a different core of the plurality of varied cores. A number of systems for controlling a temperature of the mold are also disclosed.

A method and a device for detecting a geometric feature of consistent molded parts takes into account the different stages of cooling due to different durations of transport of the individual removed molded parts to the inspection system. Both the geometric feature and the temperature of each molded part is measured. The detected geometric features are corrected using a calibration function taking into account the measured temperatures.

A method and a device for detecting a geometric feature of consistent molded parts takes into account the different stages of cooling due to different durations of transport of the individual removed molded parts to the inspection system. Both the geometric feature and the temperature of each molded part is measured. The detected geometric features are corrected using a calibration function taking into account the measured temperatures.

A sleeve heater for supplying heat to a melt delivery component of a hot runner system. The sleeve heater includes a tube-shaped body having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface of the tube-shaped body defines an opening in which a melt delivery component is received. A heater wraps at least partially around the tube-shaped body and extends along a length of the tube-shaped body. A thermocouple groove is formed in the outer surface of the tube-shaped body. The thermocouple groove includes a lateral bend; and a bore that extends from the lateral bend into a thickness of the tube-shaped body. Together the bore and the latera bend maintain the position of a sensing end of a thermocouple installed therein relative to the tube-shaped body.

A sleeve heater for supplying heat to a melt delivery component of a hot runner system. The sleeve heater includes a tube-shaped body having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface of the tube-shaped body defines an opening in which a melt delivery component is received. A heater wraps at least partially around the tube-shaped body and extends along a length of the tube-shaped body. A thermocouple groove is formed in the outer surface of the tube-shaped body. The thermocouple groove includes a lateral bend; and a bore that extends from the lateral bend into a thickness of the tube-shaped body. Together the bore and the latera bend maintain the position of a sensing end of a thermocouple installed therein relative to the tube-shaped body.