Expanding crosslinking polymer injection molding system

An expanding crosslinking polymer injection molding system comprising:

• an injection molding machine comprising an injection unit and a mold forming a mold cavity, the injection unit adapted to receive and inject a molten expanding crosslinking polymer into the mold cavity to form a molded part;
• a controller adapted to control operation of the injection molding machine;
• and
• one or more sensors coupled to the injection molding machine and the controller;
• wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is adapted to measure strain during an injection mold cycle,
• wherein the controller is adapted to
• calculate from measured strain at least one non-time dependent variable during the injection mold cycle,
• upon a calculated at least one non-time dependent variable reaching a first threshold value, commence a hold profile for the molded part,
• upon the calculated at least one non-time dependent variable reaching a second threshold value, terminate the hold profile,
• and is further adapted to cause the molded part to be ejected from the mold cavity upon completing the hold profile and commence a cure profile for the molded part,
• wherein the first threshold value is indicative of the mold cavity being substantially full of molten expanding crosslinking polymer.