The design of conformal cooling channels in injection molding tooling

Citation
Xr. Xu et al., The design of conformal cooling channels in injection molding tooling, POLYM ENG S, 41(7), 2001, pp. 1265-1279
Citations number
35
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Material Science & Engineering
Journal title
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
ISSN journal
0032-3888 → ACNP
Volume
41
Issue
7
Year of publication
2001
Pages
1265 - 1279
Database
ISI
SICI code
0032-3888(200107)41:7<1265:TDOCCC>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
Solid Freeform Fabrication technologies have demonstrated the potential to produce tooling with cooling channels, which are conformal to the molding c avity. 3D Printed tools with conformal cooling channels have demonstrated s imultaneous improvements in production rate and part quality as compared wi th conventional production tools. Conformal cooling lines of high performan ce and high complexity can be created, thus presenting a challenge to the t ooling designer. A systematic, modular approach to the design of conformal cooling channels is presented. Cooling is local to the surface of the tool, so the tool is divided into geometric regions and a channel system is desi gned for each region. Each channel system is itself modeled as composed of cooling elements, typically the region spanned by two channels. Six criteri a are applied, including: a transient heat transfer condition, which dictat es a maximum distance from mold surface to cooling channel; considerations of pressure and temperature drop along the flow channel; and considerations of the strength of the mold. These criteria are treated as constraints, an d successful designs are sought that define windows bounded by these constr aints. The methodology is demonstrated through application to a complex cor e and cavity for injection molding.