The following communication shows the whole process of how injection mold with hydraulic cylinder suitable for customer’s machine.
Customer (Simon):
“Could you send the part of the tool design that shows the hydraulic cylinder as I want to see how the switches will be activated and what sort of switches you are proposing.
The link below shows one of the most reliable switches but you have to have access to them for adjustment without having to strip the tool down.”
Answer (ACO MOLD)：
Hi Simon,
The diameter of hydraulic cylinder is 50mm, the stroke is 200mm, and the connector is NPT1/4, thank you.
Simon:
“Thank you Christine,
I was more interested on how it will be electrically ‘switched’ so that the press will know when the cylinder is in and when the cylinder is out?“
ACO MOLD:
Hi Simon,
This is a oil cylinder on the mold as my attached 3D mold design. The oil cylinder has an oil inlet pipe and an oil outlet pipe, which are connected to the hydraulic machine, the hydraulic machine control the movement of the oil cylinder through the oil in and out, Please find attached 3D mold design and inform if these two design are approved to start the mold making, thank you.
Simon:
“Hi Christine,
Thank you for your email. We understand how the oil cylinder works but it is important that the switching method is compatible with our machines. We have previously received tools from China with incompatible switches and in this situation it can be expensive to change this in the UK. It is important that we have the correct switching.
I have tried to explain how this works in the attachment. Let me know if you have any queries.
I also have added some more questions for you in the attachment. If you could please review this and confirm, otherwise we are happy for you to continue with tool manufacture.”
ACO MOLD:
Hi Simon, it is a safety switch to ensure the ejector system is reset before closing the mold, not really sure about the cylinder in your ppt, but the one we used is more simpler than that, we don’t have that complex switching, please see attached picture and let me know your idea, OK to add insulation plate on both sides.
Simon:
“Hi Christine,
Thanks for your mail. I’m afraid I don’t understand how this can work without any switches.
How does the machine know what position the cylinder is in if there is no signal? Without a switching system we cannot create a mould sequence.
For example a sequence might be:
1) Cores move in
2) Tool closes
3) Moulding phase
4) Tool opens
5) Cores move out
6) Eject Forward
7) Eject Back
So, when the cores move in at 1) the machine must have a signal to say that the cores are now ‘in’ and the tool should now close. Without this how does the machine know it is ok to close the tool?
It works on the same principle as the ejector back switch. So for example:
5) cores move out and hit the ‘out’ switch, which tells the machine it is ok to eject forward.
6) Ejectors move forward and hit the ‘forward’ switch (integral to the machine) which tells the machine it is ok to move the ejectors back.
7) Ejectors return to back position and hit the ‘back’ switch, which tells the machine it is ok to move the cores in.
1) The cores move in, hit the ‘in’ switch, which tells the machine it is ok to close the tool.
And so on.”
ACO MOLD:
Hi Simon, the action/sequence is controlled by injection machine, l understand why you need these switches, they work as a safety guarantee just the same like what we did for the ejection system, we can make the same for you as your ppt show.
Simon:
“Dear Christine,
Thank you for your mail. Unfortunately our injection moulding machines (Engel) cannot control this sequence without switches, it is not possible.
Anyway, we understand you will now include these so this is good. Thank you.
Kind regards,Simon“
ACO MOLD:
Hi Simon ,
Ok, great to know we are clear on mold design, the mold making process starts today and we are preparing the steel material now. T1 sample will be finished on 11/28, I will update the status of mold making by weekly report starting from week of Nov.4th, thank you.
