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In-mold Melt Front Rate Control Using a Capacitive Transducer in Injection Molding

  • F. Zhou , K. Yao , X. Chen and F. Gao
Published/Copyright: April 6, 2013
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Abstract

In the filling phase of injection molding process, melt-front rate plays a particularly important role in determining the part quality. Prior researches recommend a constant melt-front rate for this phase. A measurement device based on a capacitor principle has been developed. It has been shown that this sensor is effective to measure online and continuously melt-front position in mold cavity. Based on this sensor, this work develops and tests closed-loop control system of direct in-mold melt-front rate control. Several advanced control algorithms, Generalized Predictive Control (GPC), Iterative Learning Control (ILC), and Generalized 2D Model Predictive Iterative Learning Control (2D-GPILC), are designed, implemented, and tested with different mold inserts. The results show that 2D-GPILC, a combination scheme of feedback and iterative learning scheme, gives the best control results.


Mail address: Furong Gao, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong. E-mail:

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Received: 2008-11-04
Accepted: 2009-02-28
Published Online: 2013-04-06
Published in Print: 2009-07-01

© 2009, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich

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