Methods of monitoring and controlling a molding process using a sensed change in strain provided by a strain gauge are provided. A target strain profile is created for a molding process of a molding apparatus. An upper and lower deviation limit from the target strain profile for the molding process is provided. If a sensed change in strain exceeds a deviation limit, an alarm is activated.

An injection molding machine includes a screw inserted in an injection cylinder and configured to be movable in an axial direction of the screw, a motor configured to move the screw, a torque detection unit configured to detect a torque of the motor, a position detection unit configured to detect a position of the screw, a motor drive control unit configured to drive the motor to thereby advance the screw to a foremost position in a direction of injection, a processor, and a memory. The processor and memory are configured to determine that unmelted resin remains inside the injection cylinder if the torque of the motor becomes equal to or greater than a limit torque while the screw is advancing to the foremost position.

Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine and a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle. The systems and methods include analyzing a model of at least one of the injection molding machine, the mold, and a molten material to determine initial values for one or more control parameters of the injection molding machine, and executing a run of injection cycles at the injection molding machine; measuring operation of the injection molding machine during a particular injection cycle of the run of injection cycles; determining one or more operational parameters exceed a threshold; and upon determining that the one or more operational parameters exceed the threshold, adjusting the one or more control parameters for subsequent injection cycles of the run of injection cycles.

First training data including a set value related to a molding machine, a measured value obtained by measuring a physical quantity related to molding, and a degree of quality of a molded product generated by the molding machine is collected, a first learning model for outputting a degree of quality of a molded product when a set value and a measured value are input is generated by machine learning based on collected first training data, second training data including a defect degree for each defect type of a molded product, a measured value, and a set value capable of reducing the defect degree is collected, and a second learning model for outputting a set value capable of reducing a defect degree when a defect degree and a measured value are input is generated by machine learning based on collected second training data and a degree of quality output from the first learning model.

An abnormality detection apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a ball screw provided in an injection molding machine includes a current sensor configured to detect an alternating current of a motor for applying a driving force to the ball screw; and a computation unit configured to detect an abnormality of the ball screw based on information related to a distribution of frequency components obtained by frequency analysis of an alternating current detected by the current sensor, and information related to a distribution of frequency components obtained by frequency analysis of an alternating current detected when the ball screw, which is normal, operates.

Method for improving a cycle time of a molding system operating in cycles, wherein the molding system is set up to produce molded parts in cycles, wherein the cycles include partial phases, for at least one partial phase or at least one group of partial phases a partial phase duration is measured or ascertained with reference to settings of the molding system, an optimum partial phase duration is calculated for the at least one partial phase or the at least one group of partial phases on the basis of a machine configuration, if the measured or ascertained partial phase duration deviates from the optimum partial phase duration by more than a predefined amount, an indication that the setting of the molding system is improvable with respect to the at least one partial phase or the at least one group of partial phases is issued.

An injection molding machine management system, which manages an injection molding unit including an injection molding machine and a peripheral device that performs a previous step or a subsequent step of a molding step, includes a first display unit that displays a first screen for displaying a state of the molding step of the injection molding machine. The first screen includes a first screen area and a second screen area. The first screen area displays a first indicator related to quality in the molding step of the injection molding machine, and the second screen area displays a second indicator related to quality in the previous step of the molding step or the subsequent step of the molding step.

A molding machine management device that is able to couple to a molding machine includes a storage unit configured to store, in chronological order, numerical value information on a molding process when a molded product is molded by the molding machine and four-factor information on four factors of production which includes a man, a machine, a material, and a method when the molded product is produced, and an output control unit configured to classify the numerical value information into a plurality of groups for periods divided according to time when the four factors of production changes, and output the numerical value information classified into the plurality of groups to an output unit in group units.

An injection molding system includes: an injection molding machine configured to operate in accordance with a command generated using a first language, and inject a molten material into a mold to mold a molded object; a robot configured to operate in accordance with a command generated using a second language, and convey the molded object; and a control device configured to control the injection molding machine and the robot. When determining that an error occurs in at least one of the injection molding machine and the robot, the control device transmits, to the injection molding machine, a command generated using the first language and for causing the injection molding machine to execute a return operation, and transmits, to the robot, a command interpretable by the second language and for causing the robot to execute a return operation, so as to cause the injection molding machine and the robot to execute the return operations.

An injection molding machine managing system includes a managing device, and an injection molding machine communicably connected with the device and performing at least one of the following: send data to the device; and receive data from the device. Upon a version mismatch between these device and machine, the system performs at least one of the following: send a notification about the mismatch to a user; and perform a process for removing the mismatch. An injection molding machine includes a control device, and a driver communicably connected with the device and performing at least one of the following: send data to the device; and receive data from the device. Upon a version mismatch between these device and driver, the machine performs at least one of the following: send a notification about the mismatch to a user; and perform a process for removing the mismatch.