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 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 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.

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 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 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.

The invention relates to a method for process monitoring during production of a finished part (112) in a primary shaping process. The method comprises the following steps: a) providing at least one mould (114) designed for the primary shaping process, wherein the mould (114) has at least one cavity (116) for receiving at least one starting material for the hot-crosslinking material, and wherein an apparatus for determining a mould internal pressure is also integrated into the mould (114); b) heating the mould (114); c) introducing the at least one starting material for the hot-crosslinking material into the cavity (116) under pressure such that the finished part (112) is produced; d) detecting a progression of the mould internal pressure occurring in step c); e) differentiating, at least once or at least twice, the progression of the mould internal pressure in order to determine at least one derivative selected from the group consisting of: the first-order derivative and the second-order derivative; and f) characterising a progression of a chemical crosslinking reaction by means of at least one derivative selected from the group consisting of: the first-order derivative and the second-order derivative.