In an injection molding system, an amount of deformation of an elastic member is calculated from image data of the elastic member causing a nozzle to generate a nozzle touch force and a nozzle touch force of the nozzle is calculated by converting the amount of deformation. Accordingly, it becomes possible to detect abnormal conditions such as resin leakage and mold deformation and exercise correct control of the nozzle touch force.

A molding machine includes an injection device to inject a molding material into a mold and a control device to control the injection device. The injection device includes a heating cylinder filled with the molding material and a screw moving forward/backward inside the cylinder to inject the molding material, and can move forward/backward between a communication orientation where a distal end of the cylinder communicates with the clamped mold and a separation orientation where the distal end separates from the mold and can pivot on a pivot shaft between the separation orientation not allowing insertion/removal of the screw and a pivot orientation allowing the insertion/removal. The molding machine further includes a sensor to detect these orientations. The control device determines that the screw has been replaced by the sensor detecting that the injection device pivots from the separation orientation to the pivot orientation and returns to the separation orientation.

A molding machine includes an injection device to inject a molding material into a mold and a control device to control the injection device. The injection device includes a heating cylinder filled with the molding material and a screw moving forward/backward inside the cylinder to inject the molding material, and can move forward/backward between a communication orientation where a distal end of the cylinder communicates with the clamped mold and a separation orientation where the distal end separates from the mold and can pivot on a pivot shaft between the separation orientation not allowing insertion/removal of the screw and a pivot orientation allowing the insertion/removal. The molding machine further includes a sensor to detect these orientations. The control device determines that the screw has been replaced by the sensor detecting that the injection device pivots from the separation orientation to the pivot orientation and returns to the separation orientation.

A method for fabricating a composite panel includes providing a preform including a peripheral edge portion and a central portion. The central portion has a first thickness, the peripheral edge portion has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness, and a first step is arranged between the central portion and the peripheral edge portion. The method includes providing a tool including a binder defining a second step, an upper punch, and a lower tool; arranging the preform between the binder and the upper punch and the lower tool; shaping the preform using the tool; and injection molding the preform in the tool to create the composite panel.

A method for fabricating a composite panel includes providing a preform including a peripheral edge portion and a central portion. The central portion has a first thickness, the peripheral edge portion has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness, and a first step is arranged between the central portion and the peripheral edge portion. The method includes providing a tool including a binder defining a second step, an upper punch, and a lower tool; arranging the preform between the binder and the upper punch and the lower tool; shaping the preform using the tool; and injection molding the preform in the tool to create the composite panel.

An injection molding machine system includes an injection molding machine, a mold, heater device, and a pressing device. The mold includes a fixed side mold and a slide mold. When the slide mold is clamped at a first mold clamping position, one primary molding cavity is formed by a slide side recessed portion, and one primary molding cavity is formed by a fixed side recessed portion. A pair of primary molded articles, are molded by injection molding. The mold is opened, and bonding end surfaces of the primary molded article remaining in the slide side recessed portion and the primary molded article remaining in the fixed side recessed portion are melted by the heating device. When the slide mold is clamped at a second mold clamping position, a secondary molding cavity is formed by the slide side recessed portion and the fixed side recessed portion. When the pressing device is driven, the primary molded article in the slide side recessed portion is pressed against the primary molded article in the fixed side recessed portion and the bonding end surfaces are fused together. In other words, a molded article is obtained.

An injection molding machine system includes an injection molding machine, a mold, heater device, and a pressing device. The mold includes a fixed side mold and a slide mold. When the slide mold is clamped at a first mold clamping position, one primary molding cavity is formed by a slide side recessed portion, and one primary molding cavity is formed by a fixed side recessed portion. A pair of primary molded articles, are molded by injection molding. The mold is opened, and bonding end surfaces of the primary molded article remaining in the slide side recessed portion and the primary molded article remaining in the fixed side recessed portion are melted by the heating device. When the slide mold is clamped at a second mold clamping position, a secondary molding cavity is formed by the slide side recessed portion and the fixed side recessed portion. When the pressing device is driven, the primary molded article in the slide side recessed portion is pressed against the primary molded article in the fixed side recessed portion and the bonding end surfaces are fused together. In other words, a molded article is obtained.

A magnetic clamping apparatus can be switched, by a reversal of a polarity of a first magnet, between an unclamping state in which a first mold is not clamped on an attraction face of a first magnetic plate 6 and a clamping state in which it is clamped on the attraction face. If a first operation is performed with respect to the magnetic clamping apparatus, a clamping operation of switching from the unclamping state into the clamping state is performed on condition that a proximity sensor is detecting proximity of the first mold. If a second operation that is different from the first operation is performed, the clamping operation is performed on condition that the proximity sensor is not detecting the proximity of the first mold.

A magnetic clamping apparatus can be switched, by a reversal of a polarity of a first magnet, between an unclamping state in which a first mold is not clamped on an attraction face of a first magnetic plate 6 and a clamping state in which it is clamped on the attraction face. If a first operation is performed with respect to the magnetic clamping apparatus, a clamping operation of switching from the unclamping state into the clamping state is performed on condition that a proximity sensor is detecting proximity of the first mold. If a second operation that is different from the first operation is performed, the clamping operation is performed on condition that the proximity sensor is not detecting the proximity of the first mold.

An inspection method for an injection molding device includes: a first step of acquiring a first detection value from a sensor using a test mold having the sensor, the sensor measuring a temperature or pressure of a molten material injected from a first injection molding device into a cavity section demarcated by a fixed mold and a moving mold; a second step of injecting a molten material from a second injection molding device into the cavity section and acquiring a second detection value from the sensor; and a third step of performing an inspection using the first detection value and the second detection value.