Injection Mold Design
3 DAY LECTURE/WORKSHOP
OFFERED THREE TIMES:
March 17-19, 2008 (CRS# 00.726-001)
June 16-18, 2008 (CRS# 00.726-011)
August 4-6, 2008 (CRS# 00.726-021)
TUITION: $1195
OVERVIEW
Injection mold designers are faced with the difficult task of designing a tool
that will produce quality thermoplastic products at acceptable production rates.
In addition, the tool must operate consistently over the long term with minimum
maintenance requirements. Unfortunately, the injection mold is generally a
complex piece of tooling, as it must incorporate many necessary functions.
This three-day seminar on Injection Mold Design should give those involved in
the thermoplastics injection molding industry a strong fundamental understanding
of tooling technology and the underlying engineering principles in the areas of
melt flow, cooling, part ejection and mold structure.
In addition, the important topic of injection mold instrumentation is given
special consideration as the use of mold pressure and temperature
instrumentation is increasing rapidly. These variables have been shown to be
extremely useful as a measure of process stability and part quality.
Laboratory workshops will provide participants with an opportunity to study the
injection molding process using instrumented tooling. Students will also be
exposed to some of the latest computer-aided mold design tools and techniques.
CONTENT
Plastic Materials Behavior
- Flow properties of
plastic melts; thermal behavior/properties; material shrinkage; test methods;
filled/reinforced materials; use of material data in mold design
Review of the Injection Molding Process- Materials handling;
plastication/melting; injection phase; packing and holding
phases; cooling phase; part ejection; machine/mold interactions; machine
controls
Fundamentals of Plastic Product Design
Basic Functions and Types of Injection Molds

- Two-plate molds;
three-plate molds; insulated/modified molds; hot runner molds; specialty molds
Sprue Bushings and Nozzles
- Mold location; cold
sprue designs; hot/insulated sprues; mounting and cooling of bushings
Gate Location and Type- Orientation
effects/shrinkage; number of gates; weld lines; core deflection; types of gates
Cold Runner Systems
- Cavity layout; balanced
systems; pressure drops; runner balancing for family molds; runner cooling
Computer-Aided Mold Design-
Mold filling; mold
shrinkage
Structural Design of Injection Molds
- Deflection of cores and
cavities; mold support system; clamp surface area
Venting of Injection Molds
Cavity/Core Insert Mounting
Part Ejection- Ejection techniques;
engineering design of ejection systems; ejection of undercuts
Mold Cooling and Heating
- Cooling methods; cooling
time calculations; fluid flow/heat transfer considerations
Mold Clamping Systems
Injection Mold Instrumentation-
Mold pressure
measurement; mold temperature measurement; parting line sensors
INSTRUCTOR
Steve Thibeault
© 1995-2007 University of Massachusetts Lowell,
Continuing Studies, Corporate & Distance Education