The injection-molding of thermoplastics is the main process used in the production of plastics parts. There are some limitations in the conventional injection process, specially related to raw materials, machines configuration and operation, which hamper fabrication of thin parts with large areas such as car windows and lenses. On the other hand, the process has been improved continuously with several new technologies, going beyond the conventional injection molding process, including the "injection-compression" process. In this paper, using CAE (computer aided engineering) technology, the author studied the production of PC lens by both processes: conventional injection molding and injection-compression molding. The studies were basically conducted in the following sequence: flow pattern study and optimization of the injection-compression process focusing on the weld line size, molding window study for both cases and comparison of several parameters, particularly shear stress and clamp force - as they are key parameters for the production of large-area parts. The results confirm the advantages of the injection-compression process.
Injection; injection-compression; simulation; CAE
