A substantially constant pressure injection molding method and machine that forms molded parts by injecting molten thermoplastic material into a mold cavity at a substantially constant pressure. As a result, the mold cavity is filled with molten thermoplastic material by advancing a continuous flow front of thermoplastic material from a gate to an end of the mold cavity.

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.

There is disclosed a method (400) of operating a molding system (100), the method (400) executable by a controller (140) of the molding system (100). The method comprises appreciating (402) a plurality of operational parameters associated with the molding system (100); based on at least a sub-set of the plurality of operational parameters, generating (404) a machine performance index, the machine performance index being a single value representative of the at least a sub-set of the plurality of operational parameters and being instrumental in enabling an operator of the molding system (100) to appreciate an economic productivity factor associated therewith; causing (406) the machine performance index to be displayed on an interface of the controller (140).

A power supply device for a molding machine with an intermediate circuit, which can be connected with at least one drive of the molding machine and is suitable for supplying the at least one drive with electrical energy; a supply module connected to the intermediate circuit; an energy storage device connected to the intermediate circuit; and a closed loop control device for closed loop controlling an energy content of the energy storage device. The energy storage device can be closed loop controlled by means of the closed loop control device so that the energy content of the energy storage device does not go outside a range, in which a power input and/or a power output of the energy storage device is essentially constant.

Apparatus for checking a state of a machine part of a shaping machine, comprising an evaluation unit, at least one power loss sensor for ascertaining a power loss measurement signal which is representative of a power loss in and/or at the machine part, and at least one movement sensor for ascertaining a movement measurement signal which is representative of a movement of the machine part, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to compute a damage indicator for the machine part from the power loss measurement signal and from the movement measurement signal.

Apparatus for checking a state of a machine part of a shaping machine, comprising an evaluation unit, at least one power loss sensor for ascertaining a power loss measurement signal which is representative of a power loss in and/or at the machine part, and at least one movement sensor for ascertaining a movement measurement signal which is representative of a movement of the machine part, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to compute a damage indicator for the machine part from the power loss measurement signal and from the movement measurement signal.