mini injection molding machine.(AIR UNI)

grabcad

Injection molding machine (IMM) is used to createcomplex shape plastic parts with thin walls in a variety of sizes.Some common examples are plastic cups, containers,toys,electrical components etc. The global consumption of plasticmaterials has increased from245 million tons in 2008 to 312million tons in 2014 and is increasing continuously.Differenttypes of IMMs are currently in use and manyinnovations are regularly introduced. This project aimed todesign and fabricate a low maintenance, fully electric miniinjection molding machine with short cycle time for fabricationof small, discrete plastic parts. A mini IMM was hence designedinvolving selection of screw, barrel, motors, platens, rods andstructural material. The IMM achieves the melting temperatureof Polypropylene (thermoplastic) at the extruder tip. Initially, aCAD design was made using Solidworks followed by thermal andstructural analysis of different components using AnsysWorkbench. Once the design was successful and the requiredspecifications were finalized, market was surveyed andmanufacturing of different parts was completed. The mini IMMwas assembled and its electrical power system, heating systemand related control mechanism using Arduino were alsodeveloped. Thus, a low maintenance, fully-electric mini IMM forfabricating various discrete plastic parts was successfullyfabricated. This IMM is controlled through a use-friendlyinterface displayed on laptop screen for manufacturing ofvarious discrete plastic parts. This machine is ideal forproduction of small plastic parts, offering a very short set-up.