Premium
Pattern‐based closed‐loop quality control for the injection molding process
Author(s) -
Woll Suzanne L. B.,
Cooper Douglas J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.11723
Subject(s) - cascade , injection molding machine , process (computing) , controller (irrigation) , computer science , molding (decorative) , process control , control theory (sociology) , pressure control , quality (philosophy) , artificial neural network , control engineering , control (management) , artificial intelligence , mold , engineering , mechanical engineering , materials science , agronomy , philosophy , epistemology , chemical engineering , composite material , biology , operating system
The basis for a novel pattern‐based closed‐loop control strategy for the injection molding process is presented. The strategy uses artificial neural networks (ANNs) embedded within a cascade design to analyze sensor patterns, identify process character and control part quality. The platform for this work, the injection molding process, is an industrially significant, cyclic manufacturing operation. Final part quality of this process is a nonlinear function of many machine and polymer variables. Part quality control of this process is currently attained via single input–single output machine controls supervised by human operators. Presented here is a method that employs ANN technology to improve upon this approach and provide the basis for closed‐loop part quality control. In the cascade design, machine controller set‐points of an inner loop are updated based on ANN analysis of mold cavity pressure patterns. The controller action maintains the desired pressure pattern set‐point of the outer loop associated with desired part quality. Control strategy details are provided along with set‐point tracking demonstrations that support feasibility of this pattern‐based approach.