Injection Molding

Description

The goal of the project is to develop a modular, easy to build and inexpensive machine by using standard components.

A-Sample: [finished ]
functional prototypes, usually with limited scope of service and low degree of maturity

B-Sample: [finished]
functional, basic prototypes with full scope of service and a high level of maturity. They may be created using pilot tools.

C-Sample: [finished]
fully functional sample manufactured with series production tools

Injection Volume: ~ 135mL
Material Costs: < 200€
Building Time: ~ 10hr

Finally we made it. The machine works and the project is finished.
Nevertheless it still needs some smaller 'adjustments' which we will implement during the next months on the fly.

All credit goes to the VELTINS and Krombacher Brewerys, also many thanks for the guys from the precious plastic Discord-channel for bringing in a lot of great ideas.

Cheers Up guys

Details

Development of an Benchtop Injector for making plastic parts by injecting molten plastic into an aluminium mold.

The main field of application will be Education-purposes, small batch production and prototypes. Mainly for parts which need a higher durability or lower cycle time than 3d-Printed parts.

The side effect is a lot of fun by building the machine :-)

Project overview is done/available in MIRO: https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_kpTbPsU=/

Feel free to join the DevLab_TSA Makerspace Discord-Channel

Files

Injector C-Sample v27.f3d

fusion - 1.13 MB - 09/01/2020 at 05:42

Download

DevLab_Injector.pdf

CAD File of the C_Sample

Adobe Portable Document Format - 36.29 MB - 08/31/2020 at 04:49

Preview

Project Logs

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paint job and final assembly
DevLab.nrw • 08/29/2020 at 20:52 • 0 comments

painted all the parts and assembled the whole machine afterwards. Amazingly how a few sprays of paint increase the look.
Assembly of housing and electronics
DevLab.nrw • 08/19/2020 at 14:26 • 0 comments

Assemble housing and electronics
Mechanical assembly of C-Sample
DevLab.nrw • 08/11/2020 at 04:57 • 0 comments

Mechanical assembly of the C-Sample is nearly finished
Finished the Cad of the C-Sample
DevLab.nrw • 08/05/2020 at 07:32 • 0 comments

Finished the CAD Work. Benchtop is now standard and the wall-mount optional. Assembly will start soon
B-Sample disassemble
DevLab.nrw • 08/01/2020 at 12:12 • 0 comments

Disassembled the whole machine. The parts will be used for the C-Sample
Finished the B-Sample
DevLab.nrw • 07/31/2020 at 12:10 • 0 comments

Finished the Housing of the B-sample and testet the whole machine.
The B-Sample is thus completed and will be disassembled to reuse the parts on the C-Sample.
Also made test for the chamfered housing Parts for the C-Sample.
Electronics finished, Testing Controller Plates
DevLab.nrw • 07/27/2020 at 05:42 • 0 comments

By adding the second Controller, the Electronics are now finished. Tried different types of Plates for the Controller. My favorite is the plastic one and with below 50 C at the frame, it will not melt.

Next step will be the completion of the housing, testruns and documentation.
Pre Assemble of Electronics & Housing
DevLab.nrw • 07/23/2020 at 06:18 • 0 comments

Assembled the heating clips , isolation, parts of the housing and testet the electronics. The sidepanel with the controller will be changed to a smaller one in the next building session. The solution with one Controller plus SSR will also be replaced with two controllers only and their internal relais. See the MIRO Page for details: https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_kpTbPsU=/
B-Sample Mechanical Assembly finished
DevLab.nrw • 07/19/2020 at 10:10 • 0 comments

Mechanical Assembly of the B-Sample nearly completed. Welded the Frame, tested different configurations for the lever arm, tested the Rod-Plunger and inserted coupling for the mold.

Check out MIRO and our Instagram Account for more details. https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_kpTbPsU=/
Work on B-Sample
DevLab.nrw • 07/14/2020 at 12:30 • 0 comments

We finished the A-Sample, made tests. The Machine works good so far.

Now we are in the building-phase of the B-Version