An injection molding tool and method are used to create a connection between at least two metal parts. The metal parts are inserted into the injection molding tool. Using a clinching device of the injection molding tool, the metal parts are mechanically connected to one another by clinching and are encapsulated with a plastic material using an extruder connected to the injection molding tool so as to, at least partially, enclose the metal parts with overmolding or casting.

To achieve molding insert is properly mounted to the tooling plate of the injection molding machine, a sensor head comprising confocal sensors is used. The sensor heads are placed on the tooling plate at the respective position to determine whether the desired mold insert has been mounted to that position and whether the desired mold insert has been precisely and accurately mounted to the tooling plate.

An injection molding system is provided with inspection means for inspecting an insert part before a resin is injected into a mold, inspection data output means for outputting inspection data on the insert part obtained by the inspection means, and inspection data recording means for recording the inspection data on the insert part and physical quantities related to the injection of the resin into the mold in association with the cycle number of the molded article from the injection molding machine. Thus, the cause of bad molded articles, as well as that for a finished product, can be investigated in consideration of the inspection data on the insert part inserted into the mold.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for retaining magnetic properties of magnetic elements while undergoing manufacturing processes are presented. In one embodiment, a manufacturing fixture includes a temperature controlled region suitable for retaining a magnetic element. The manufacturing fixture also includes a cooling mechanism configured to maintain the magnetic element at an acceptable temperature range during a thermally active manufacturing process. The temperature controlled or stabilized region can include a structure configured to receive the magnetic element and a sensor, or sensors. In one embodiment, the sensor can be configured to measure an ambient temperature of the temperature stabilized region. In another embodiment, the sensor can be a magnetic sensor configured to determine a magnetic property of the magnetic element.

A molding system for encapsulating electronic devices mounted on a substrate, the molding system comprising a first mold chase with a first mold chase surface and a second mold chase with a second mold chase surface opposite to the first mold chase surface, the first and second mold chase surfaces being operative to clamp onto the substrate and to apply a clamping pressure thereto. The molding system further comprises a first sensor located at a first position for determining a first relative distance between the substrate and a mold chase facing the substrate at the first position, and a second sensor located at a second position for determining a second relative distance between the substrate and a mold chase facing the substrate at the second position. The molding system also comprises a first actuator located adjacent to the first position and a second actuator located adjacent to the second position, wherein the first and second actuators are operative to adjust the first relative distance with respect to the second relative distance for applying a uniform clamping pressure onto the substrate.

An injection molding system includes a plurality of inspection apparatuses for inspecting molded article quality, a unit that transports a molded article molded by an injection molding machine, a molded article containment unit that is provided for each of types of post-treatment operations needed for the molded article, a transport destination designation unit that selects and designates the molded article containment unit to contain the molded article on the basis of a combination of inspection results from the plurality of inspection apparatuses, and a molded article sorting and transport unit that sorts and transports the molded article into the molded article containment unit designated by the transport destination designation unit.

An injection molding unit includes a main unit and an optional unit, the main unit accommodating a first injection molding machine that molds an integrated product by injecting a first molding material into a cavity which is defined by a lower die and an upper die and in which an insert member is disposed. The optional unit includes at least one of a member molding unit that accommodates a second injection molding machine that molds the insert member by injecting a second molding material or a press molding machine that molds the insert member in press molding, and a robot unit that accommodates a robot that performs placement operation of placing the insert member in the cavity or transport operation of transporting the integrated product molded by the first injection molding machine. The main unit is so configured that the optional unit is attachable thereto and detachable therefrom.