Method for Controlling a Rate or Force of a Clamp in a Molding System Using One or More Strain Gauges

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

• create, by one or more processors, a target strain profile for a clamping and unclamping process of a molding apparatus;
• receive, via an interface, an upper deviation limit and a lower deviation limit for the target strain profile;
• receive, as an output from a first strain gauge, a change in strain in a mold;
• identify, by the one or more processors, a deviation from the target strain profile based on the sensed change in strain provided as the output from the first strain gauge;
• compare, by the one or more processors, the deviation to the upper deviation limit or the lower deviation limit;
• determine, by the one or more processors, that the deviation exceeds the upper deviation limit or the lower deviation limit and adjust a rate or a force of clamp movement.

A client device comprising one or more processors, one or more interfaces, and a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the client device to:

• create, by one or more processors, a target strain profile for a clamping and unclamping process of a molding apparatus;
• receive, via an interface, an upper deviation limit and a lower deviation limit for the target strain profile;
• receive, as an output from a first strain gauge, a change in strain in a mold;
• identify, by the one or more processors, a deviation from the target strain profile based on the sensed change in strain provided as the output from the first strain gauge;
• compare, by the one or more processors, the deviation to the upper deviation limit or the lower deviation limit;
• determine, by the one or more processors, that the deviation exceeds the upper deviation limit or the lower deviation limit and adjust a rate or a force of clamp movement.