Everything About Liquid Injection Moulding

by Ashish Tools Mould Manufacturer in india Liquid Injection Moulding (LIM) is an industrial manufacturing process that is used for making different components and products. The LIM is different from standard moulding as the former mixes materials mechanically while the latter mixes using pressurised impingement.

The LIM process works by using several elastomeric materials such as Liquid Silicone Rubber. The process can efficiently produce a variety of versatile items that includes isolators, o-rings, electronic contacts and seals.

What makes an LIM process versatile?

A major portion of the process’ versatility is derived from the properties of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) material. The most notable properties of LSR are:-

•    Flexibility
•    Tensile strength
•    Liquid resistance

Also, LSR offers excellent formability features to the material. Such formability characteristics help in giving manufactured finished product either transparency or colour. Depending on its chemical composition, LSR can also serve as a conductor or insulator during moulding. LSR moulding is used with cap moulds by many cap manufacturers. The process is recommended by many key players in the sector of Cap Mould manufacture in India. LSR moulding procedure guarantees the production of finished products having accurate dimensions.

The process of Liquid Injection Moulding

The process focuses on mixing as well as dispensing of plasticised material through a range of plungers. The tasks of mixing and dispensing are done in portions. By and large, one plunger has plastic (base forming) that can be reinforced using fibres and additives. Likewise, the other plunger has a catalyst for activating mixing reaction.

The mixed material (compound) is injected to a sealed mould. Once hardened, the finished product is ejected out of the mould. In general, mouldmakers – working with LIM – prefer using materials such as acrylics and silicones. A specific spring-loaded pin nozzle is used in LIM during the injection stage. The pin nozzle helps prevent clogging (with liquid plastic) in the moulding machine. The spring-loaded nozzle prevents clogging by allowing higher pressure of injection than that of extruder barrel.     Such high pressure of injection in the machine helps prevent channel blockages.

Computer-aided Design (CAD) tools can be used to make LIM more efficient.  The CAD programs can run quick simulations for knowing the most appropriate processing conditions. The CAD programs also help in monitoring integrated devices and evaluating results. LIM should be used with thermal imaging technology to rectify production errors such as design inconsistencies or moulding flaws.
 
A Liquid Injection Moulding Machine

A standard variant of LIM machine operates with the help of an injection unit and a metered pumping device. The injection unit must be attached with static or dynamic mixer. Every LIM machine is compact and has peripheral components as per user’s requirements.

The most critical components of liquid injection moulding machine are:-

•    Metering Units – For pumping two liquid materials proportionately
•    Injectors – A standard injection device that helps inject the silicone plasticised   material.
•    Supply Drums – The supply containers have materials, and are connected to the machine’s metering unit.
•    Mould Clamp – The clamping device works in tandem with supply unit, pump and injector. The mould clamp helps keep the mould in a single place.
•    Mixers – The mixers receive material from metering unit. These mixers are either static or dynamic (as per project’s requirements).

Sponsor Ads

• Ad Space Available - Rent it Now!

Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

Comments