A control device for an injection molding machine is equipped with a pressure acquisition unit that acquires a pressure of a resin inside a cylinder, a reverse rotation control unit that causes a screw to be rotated in reverse based on a predetermined reverse rotation condition so as to reduce the resin pressure after having moved the screw rearward to a metering position, a compensation amount calculation unit that calculates a compensation amount to be made with respect to the reverse rotation condition, based on the resin pressure inside the cylinder acquired by the pressure acquisition unit when the reverse rotation of the screw is stopped, and a predetermined compensation function, and a compensation processing unit configured to compensate the reverse rotation condition based on the compensation amount calculated by the compensation amount calculation unit.

A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a plasticizing unit, a nozzle, a stage, and a control unit, wherein the plasticizing unit includes a driving motor, a screw, a barrel, and a first heater that heats a material supplied between the screw and the barrel, and the control unit performs a process of decreasing an output of the first heater when at least one of a first condition, a second condition, and a third condition is satisfied, provided that the first condition is that a measurement value of a first temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the screw or the barrel is larger than a first predetermined value, the second condition is that a torque value of the driving motor is smaller than a second predetermined value, and the third condition is that a measurement value of a pressure sensor that measures a pressure in a flow channel between a communication hole and a nozzle opening is smaller than a third predetermined value.

A controller for an injection molding system is in communication with a melt flow control unit, a gas assist control unit, and a gas counter pressure control unit. The controller can effect real-time adjustments to gas assist pressure and/or gas counter pressure as a function of melt pressure or flow front position.

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.

The molding machine includes a cylinder, a screw built in the cylinder, and a state detection device. The state detection device includes a sensor for detecting a state of the screw. The state detection device is attached to the screw outside the cylinder.

A plasticizing device includes a plasticizing cylinder and a plasticizing screw arranged in the plasticizing cylinder. The plasticizing screw is rotatable about, and linearly movable along, a longitudinal axis. The plasticizing screw comprises a functioning section. A sensor is arranged in or on the plasticizing cylinder, and a distance to the surface of the functioning section of the plasticizing screw can be measured by the sensor. A detecting device can detect a type of the functioning section and/or an operating state of the functioning section, can detect a distance signal progression by a movement of the functioning section relative to the sensor, can compare the detected distance signal progression with a stored distance signal progression, and can issue a signal representing the type of functioning section and/or the operating state of the functioning section depending on a matching of the detected distance signal progression with a stored distance signal progression.

A method is disclosed for micro-molding articles. The method comprises melting and pre-pressurizing thermoplastic material to a first level, within a plasticizing barrel. The melt pressure of the thermoplastic material is manipulated to a second level, within a hot runner. The melt pressure of the thermoplastic material is manipulated to an ultra-cavity packing pressure within a valve gate nozzle.

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.

An injection molding system comprising: a first selected valve, one or more downstream valves, delivering a fluid to a mold cavity, at least one fluid property sensor that detects a flow front of fluid material flowing downstream through the mold cavity at a trigger location within the cavity disposed between the first gate and at least one selected downstream gate, a controller instructing an actuator associated with the downstream gates to open the gates at a predetermined open gate target time on a first injection cycle, each valve associated with a position sensor that detects opening of a gate at an actual open gate time to the controller, the controller automatically adjusting time of instruction to open the gates on a subsequent injection cycle by an adjustment time equal to any delay in time between the predetermined open gate target time and the actual open gate time.

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.