Journal
MICROMACHINES
Volume 11, Issue 12, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/mi11121115
Keywords
functional analysis; micro-injection moulding; machine design; process capability
Categories
Funding
- Horizon 2020
- EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation [814225]
- European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation [767589]
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Micro polymer parts can be usually manufactured either by conventional injection moulding (IM) or by micro-injection moulding (mu IM). In this paper, functional analysis was used as a tool to investigate the performances of IM and mu IM used to manufacture the selected industrial component. The methodology decomposed the production cycle phases of the two processes and attributed functions to parts features of the two investigated machines. The output of the analysis was aimed to determine casual chains leading to the final outcome of the process. Experimental validation of the functional analysis was carried out moulding the same micro medical part in thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material using the two processes by means of multi-cavity moulds. The produced batches were assessed using a precision scale and a high accuracy optical instrument. The measurement results were compared using capability indexes. The data-driven comparison identified and quantified the correlations between machine design and part quality, demonstrating that the mu IM machine technology better meets the accuracy and precision requirements typical of micro manufacturing productions.
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