Scientific Molding Service
Scientific molding is a systematic approach to injection molding that is based largely on the tenets of the scientific method (developing and testing a hypothesis, drawing conclusions, and providing reproducible results). It uses comprehensive data collection and analysis techniques to develop and document the specifications, settings, and steps required to create a tightly controlled and repeatable manufacturing process. Traditionally, components are brought into specification using a “trial and error” molding process. Scientific molding eliminates the guesswork and rework by using advanced sensors and sophisticated software to establish melt and cooling temperatures, fill rates, pack and hold pressures, and other material-specific variables prior to production. Similar technology and benchmarking is used to monitor each phase of the molding process to ensure consistent quality, precision, and defect-free repeatability.
The robust process established by scientific molding — specifically the data captured and recorded during the process — translates to consistent, repeatable high-quality outcomes throughout all production cycles with minimal setup, regardless of when or on which machine the runs are completed.
Further, predictable reproducibility, process validation, and meeting mandated compliance requirements are easily achieved with scientific molding, which is a boon for complex industries that are highly regulated, such as the medical field.
While thorough, comprehensive, and unique to each application to which it is administered, the scientific molding process can be broken down into six essential steps that highly specialized engineers use to execute it:
Upon review of the initial part design and its complexity, the molder recommends the implementation of scientific molding, if appropriate, to the OEM.
Both the plastic part and the tool must be designed by specially trained engineers to accommodate scientific molding sensors.
The first iteration of the tool is constructed based upon initial design specifications.
Testing the tool is at the heart of scientific molding. Specially trained engineers hypothesize and conduct a Design of Experiments (DoE) to test variables and establish the process window — the parameters that must be consistently applied in production to produce optimal injection molding outcomes.
Once the process window is established, full scale production may begin. The process window is closely monitored and remains consistent throughout production.
Proper tooling and machine maintenance (cleaning surfaces and sensors, etc.), ensures adjustments are minimal and is critical to preventing downtime or defective parts across product runs.
To verify optimal tool functionality and monitor quality testing, process and production engineers use the following to ensure process parameters are established, documented, and meticulously followed:
- Rheology curve (or viscosity curve)
- Velocity profiling
- Cavity pressure readings
- Gate seal (or gate freeze) studies
- Design of Experiments (or Experimental Design) testing
Scientific molding is a powerful process, partially made that way by the specialized engineers who have undergone thorough training and have the proper levels of scientific molding certifications. Kaysun’s scientific molding specialists, for example, hold RJG-designated certifications in Systematic Molding, Master Molder I, and Master Molder II.
That level of knowledge requires a clear understanding of what’s happening inside the tool. The engineers must be adept at interpreting data in order to identify and address any process template deviations, or to efficiently set up an existing tool for a new production run or on a different machine.
Above all, scientific molding engineers are problem solvers who are aided by software in finding and fixing process issues, and providing solutions that will quickly return the process to specification.