Designing and Manufacturing of a hand operated plastic injection moulding machine envisioned for the mesoscale range.

Abstract or Summary

This project entitles the design of a simple hand operated plastic injection moulding machine capable of processing up to 4 cm3 of thermoplastic material. The apparatus is designed so it can be used for processing polymer and powder injection moulding, as well as, to be adapted in the future to be used with a different medium of compression. The machine in question is intended to be used for further research in the mesoscale injection moulding process and to reinforce the knowledge gained in the lessons imparted at Wintec. A literature review identifying present technologies and to identify design parameters was done. Based in this information three different concepts were considered and after receiving input from the client and collaborators the preferred concept was subject to further study. Three iterations brought changes to the preferred concept until a final design was obtained. The final design parts were designed observing factors of safety and its assemblies were analysed with the use a three-dimensional software and the use of FEA (Finite Element Analysis). The final design conforms to the design parameters identified in the literature review. Prototyping of the unit was initiated but due to constraints could not be finished. Further work to complete the prototyping is advised. The project can be taken from this stage onward to test physically the machine and validate the predicted values obtained in the calculations.