Three-dimensional simulation of a thermoplastic polyurethane injection molding with a metallic insert: gate location and cooling system optimization

QUINTANA, M.C.; RUEDA, F.; FRONTINI, P.M.

Conferencia; 7th International Conference on Mechanics and Materials in Design; 2017

This work study the insert injection molding process of a dowel holder, which is a rubber-made machine element used in the production of concrete railway sleepers. The flow path of polymer melt and its temperature distribution predicted by CFD software Moldex3 were evaluated to compare which of two possible gate location would lead to optimal bond strength between insert and part. An additional objective was to analyze the efficiency of two possible cooling channel configurations (parallel or serial). Simulation results show that a gate location closer to the insert would lead to lower air trap formation and higher melt temperature around insert. Serial channel layout has higher efficiency and allows to achieve a uniform temperature distribution along the piece.