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.

A movable mold includes a main mold part, a separate mold part separate from the main mold part, and a relative movement mechanism moving the separate mold part relative to the main mold part in a driving direction of a mold driver.

The object of the invention can be a method of manufacturing a product in the form of a sandwich comprising a core and outer layers. The outer layers may be composed of composite material comprising a fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix. The method uses an insert of heat-resistant material, for example silicone. The object of this invention can be to provide a method of manufacturing a sandwich that dissociates the choice of material of the core of the sandwich from the choice of the material of the outer layers.

The object of the invention can be a method of manufacturing a product in the form of a sandwich comprising a core and outer layers. The outer layers may be composed of composite material comprising a fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix. The method uses an insert of heat-resistant material, for example silicone. The object of this invention can be to provide a method of manufacturing a sandwich that dissociates the choice of material of the core of the sandwich from the choice of the material of the outer layers.

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.

The object of the invention can be a method of manufacturing a product in the form of a sandwich comprising a core and outer layers. The outer layers may be composed of composite material comprising a fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix. The method uses an insert of heat-resistant material, for example silicone. The object of this invention can be to provide a method of manufacturing a sandwich that dissociates the choice of material of the core of the sandwich from the choice of the material of the outer layers.

A movable mold includes a main mold part, a separate mold part separate from the main mold part, and a relative movement mechanism moving the separate mold part relative to the main mold part in a driving direction of a mold driver.

A molded vehicle component (10) having a skin (14) and a lower density core (16) formed by a co-injection molding process. In a first phase, a first material for forming the skin of class A surface material is injected into a mold to partially fill the mold cavity (104). Thereafter, in a second phase, a second material is injected into the same cavity (104) to complete filling of the mold cavity (104). The second material can flow only to portions of the part where the first material is still molten and displaces the molten core of the first phase, pushing it away from co-injection gates until the mold cavity is full. The second material is pre-treated with a chemical blowing agent in order to reduce part weight by foaming the core material. The finished co-injection molded part (10) has one material on all visible class A surfaces (14) and a core (16) that is a different, less dense material.

In a plastic injection machine, a controller in electrical communication with a motorized clamp assembly, a heated cylinder barrel, a motorized pre-plasticizing assembly, an injection assembly, and an air mover and that executes an application that configures the controller to: (i) feed thermoplastic material into a heated cylinder barrel that is closed at one end by an injection valve; (ii) warm the heated cylinder barrel to thermoplastic material to a liquid state; (iii) actuate an injection motor to preload a spring biased plunger received within another end of the heated cylinder barrel, thereby pressurizing liquid thermoplastic material in the heating cylinder barrel to an injection pressure set value; (iv) actuate an injection valve motor to open the injection valve causing the pressurized liquid thermoplastic material to inject into a clamped mold; and (v) release a portion of the clamped mold to release the molded article.