Enhancing the Cooling Efficiency of Aluminum-Filled Epoxy Resin Rapid Tool by Changing Inner Surface Roughness of Cooling Channels
In low-pressure wax injection molding, cooling time refers to the period during which the molten plastic inside the mold solidifies and cools down to a temperature where it can be safely ejected without deformation. However, cooling efficiency for the mass production of injection-molded wax patterns...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/7/874 |
| _version_ | 1797212065889255424 |
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| author | Chil-Chyuan Kuo Hong-Wei Chen Geng-Feng Lin Song-Hua Huang Shih-Feng Tseng |
| author_facet | Chil-Chyuan Kuo Hong-Wei Chen Geng-Feng Lin Song-Hua Huang Shih-Feng Tseng |
| author_sort | Chil-Chyuan Kuo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In low-pressure wax injection molding, cooling time refers to the period during which the molten plastic inside the mold solidifies and cools down to a temperature where it can be safely ejected without deformation. However, cooling efficiency for the mass production of injection-molded wax patterns is crucial. This work aims to investigate the impact of varying surface roughness on the inner walls of the cooling channel on the cooling efficiency of an aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool. It was found that the cooling time for the injection-molded products can be determined by the surface roughness according to the proposed prediction equation. Employing fiber laser processing on high-speed steel rods allows for the creation of microstructures with different surface roughness levels. Results demonstrate a clear link between the surface roughness of cooling channel walls and cooling time for molded wax patterns. Employing an aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool with a surface roughness of 4.9 µm for low-pressure wax injection molding can save time, with a cooling efficiency improvement of approximately 34%. Utilizing an aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool with a surface roughness of 4.9 µm on the inner walls of the cooling channel can save the cooling time by up to approximately 60%. These findings underscore the significant role of cooling channel surface roughness in optimizing injection molding processes for enhanced efficiency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:36:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-28792439ac1f47aba17ac83fe1aedd40 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:36:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-28792439ac1f47aba17ac83fe1aedd402024-04-12T13:24:59ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602024-03-0116787410.3390/polym16070874Enhancing the Cooling Efficiency of Aluminum-Filled Epoxy Resin Rapid Tool by Changing Inner Surface Roughness of Cooling ChannelsChil-Chyuan Kuo0Hong-Wei Chen1Geng-Feng Lin2Song-Hua Huang3Shih-Feng Tseng4Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, TaiwanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, TaiwanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, TaiwanLi-Yin Technology Co., Ltd., New Taipei City 24301, TaiwanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei City 106344, TaiwanIn low-pressure wax injection molding, cooling time refers to the period during which the molten plastic inside the mold solidifies and cools down to a temperature where it can be safely ejected without deformation. However, cooling efficiency for the mass production of injection-molded wax patterns is crucial. This work aims to investigate the impact of varying surface roughness on the inner walls of the cooling channel on the cooling efficiency of an aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool. It was found that the cooling time for the injection-molded products can be determined by the surface roughness according to the proposed prediction equation. Employing fiber laser processing on high-speed steel rods allows for the creation of microstructures with different surface roughness levels. Results demonstrate a clear link between the surface roughness of cooling channel walls and cooling time for molded wax patterns. Employing an aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool with a surface roughness of 4.9 µm for low-pressure wax injection molding can save time, with a cooling efficiency improvement of approximately 34%. Utilizing an aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool with a surface roughness of 4.9 µm on the inner walls of the cooling channel can save the cooling time by up to approximately 60%. These findings underscore the significant role of cooling channel surface roughness in optimizing injection molding processes for enhanced efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/7/874surface roughnesscooling efficiencyaluminum-filled epoxy resinrapid toolcooling timelow-pressure wax injection molding |
| spellingShingle | Chil-Chyuan Kuo Hong-Wei Chen Geng-Feng Lin Song-Hua Huang Shih-Feng Tseng Enhancing the Cooling Efficiency of Aluminum-Filled Epoxy Resin Rapid Tool by Changing Inner Surface Roughness of Cooling Channels Polymers surface roughness cooling efficiency aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool cooling time low-pressure wax injection molding |
| title | Enhancing the Cooling Efficiency of Aluminum-Filled Epoxy Resin Rapid Tool by Changing Inner Surface Roughness of Cooling Channels |
| title_full | Enhancing the Cooling Efficiency of Aluminum-Filled Epoxy Resin Rapid Tool by Changing Inner Surface Roughness of Cooling Channels |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing the Cooling Efficiency of Aluminum-Filled Epoxy Resin Rapid Tool by Changing Inner Surface Roughness of Cooling Channels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing the Cooling Efficiency of Aluminum-Filled Epoxy Resin Rapid Tool by Changing Inner Surface Roughness of Cooling Channels |
| title_short | Enhancing the Cooling Efficiency of Aluminum-Filled Epoxy Resin Rapid Tool by Changing Inner Surface Roughness of Cooling Channels |
| title_sort | enhancing the cooling efficiency of aluminum filled epoxy resin rapid tool by changing inner surface roughness of cooling channels |
| topic | surface roughness cooling efficiency aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool cooling time low-pressure wax injection molding |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/7/874 |
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