The invention relates to a method for the online sensing of the rheology of thermoplastic and/or elastomer material for the production of injection-molded parts, wherein a measuring tool (6) is arranged in an injection-molding machine (1) between the stationary clamping plate (2) and the movable clamping plate (3) thereof instead of a mold die, wherein the measuring tool (6) comprises a measuring channel (13), in the course of which at least two pressure sensors (16) and at least two temperature sensors (17) are arranged, which transfer corresponding measured values of the material injected by means of an injection assembly (5) into the measuring channel (13) to a programmable logic controller (PLC) belonging to the injection-molding machine (1), with these measured values being processed by means of an algorithm in the PLC, evaluated and made available for the actual injection process.

An injection molding system includes a step of determining a manufacturing condition including a combination of a first mold and a first injection molding machine, a step of confirming presence or absence of a first track record in production, in which a combination of the first mold and the first injection molding machine is used, by searching a production-track-record storage unit to, and a step of producing, in a case of the absence of the first track record in production, a corrected molding condition for injection molding by using the combination of the first injection molding machine and the first mold, based on first molding machine-specific information acquired in advance for the first injection molding machine, second molding machine-specific information acquired in advance for a second injection molding machine that is combined with the first mold and has a second track record in production, and the second track record in production acquired from the production-track-record storage unit. In the step, at least an amount of resin injected from the first injection molding machine into the first mold is corrected, and the produced corrected molding condition is inputted to the second injection molding machine.

A hot runner process controller configured to monitor the status and operation of a hot runner system to autonomously generate information to improve the quality of injection molding process of a hot runner system having an inlet nozzle, one or more manifolds and one or more nozzles with actuator or without actuator, and one or more heating elements, the hot runner process controller is self-operating, and independent from the injection molding machine, includes: one or more sensors located on, in or at the hot runner system to detect the status and/or the operation of the hot runner system, and a processing unit and a memory. The processing unit is connected to the one or more sensors, wherein the memory stores data and program codes. The processing unit is configured to load and execute the program code to compare sensor information with the stored data and to determine if the hot runner system is in an operable status, and in case the hot runner system is in an operable status, configured to generate status information to activate the one or more heating elements and/or the one or more actuators enabling a production operation of the injection molding machine. In case the hot runner system is not in an operable status, configured to generate status information to deactivate the one or more heating elements and/or close or deactivate the one or more actuators disabling a production operation of the injection molding machine.

In order to improve the consistency of molded products as viscosity shifts throughout a run, a controller of an injection molding machine executes a calibration cycle in accordance with a mold cycle. The controller analyzes a plurality of sensed melt pressure values during the calibration cycle to determine one or more calibration metrics. The controller then uses the calibration metrics when executing each mold cycle of the run. More particularly, during each mold cycle of the run, the controller detects a plurality of sensed melt pressures prior to and during a fill phase of the mold cycle and compares the plurality of sensed melt pressures to the one or more calibration metrics to predict cavity pressure for a pack and hold phase of the mold cycle. The controller then adjusts a set point pressure for the pack and hold phase based on the predicted cavity pressure.

An additive injection system for use in injection molding machines to inject additive materials, such as fluids or powders, downstream of a nozzle of the injection molding machine. The additive injection unit has an additive tank to store or contain additive material and additive injectors that inject an additive material into an injection molding machine. A pump pumps the additive material from the tank through a common manifold connected to the additive injectors to be injected into the injection molding machine. A controller controls operation of the additive injection device and one or more sensors coupled to the additive injection device can provide feedback to the controller.

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.

In one aspect, there is provided an injection molding system configured to operate in a plurality of cycles. The system comprises, amongst other things, a controller that is configured for performing a comparison of a variable pressure setpoint with a target pressure value. The controller is configured to, when the target pressure value is less than the variable pressure setpoint by at least a predetermined lower bound, (i) decrease the variable pressure setpoint to a reduced variable pressure setpoint and (ii) not further decrease the variable pressure setpoint from the reduced variable pressure setpoint until the pump assembly operates for a plurality of stabilizing cycles at the reduced variable pressure setpoint.

A method to predict the remaining useful life of a plasticizing screw for an injection molding machine is provided. The method comprises: creating an energy-pressure ratio distribution estimate for normal operation of the screw for a mold; creating a temporally local energy-pressure ratio distribution estimate from real time data for the screw for the mold; comparing the local distribution with the distribution for normal operation; and generating an alert if the comparison of the two distributions predicts that the remaining useful life is negligible.

A method of influencing a backpressure length and/or a screw return speed in an axially extending plasticizing cylinder of a plasticizing unit for an injection moulding machine including a plasticizing screw arranged displaceably and rotatably in a cylinder bore of the plasticizing cylinder. Metering of plastic granulate fed to the plasticizing unit is carried out in dependence on the desired backpressure length in the plasticizing unit, and the plasticizing unit is operated in underfed mode.

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.