Molding systems and methods for a planetary gear carrier

A mold for producing an end plate of a planetary gear carrier, comprising:

• a mold body;
• a cylindrical protrusion extending from a front surface of the mold body, wherein the protrusion defines a cylindrical interior space fluidly linked to an interior space of the mold body;
• and
• an injection gate disposed on a rear surface of the mold body and aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical protrusion, wherein the injection gate is configured to allow an injection nozzle to inject a molding material from outside the mold body into the interior space of the mold body.

A method of molding an end plate for a planetary gear carrier, the method comprising:

• providing a mold for the end plate, wherein the mold comprises a cylindrical protrusion extending from a front surface of the mold;
• injecting a molding material into the mold through an injection gate disposed on a rear surface of the mold, wherein the injection gate is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical protrusion;
• and
• cooling the mold to set the molding material.

A molded carrier for a planetary gear device, comprising:

• a carrier body;
• an endplate releasably attached to the carrier body;
• and
• a plurality of planetary gear shafts disposed on the carrier body and extending from the carrier body towards the end plate,
• wherein the carrier body is formed from an injection molding material comprising an additive, and
• wherein the carrier body has a plurality of surface flow marks corresponding to the locations of injection molding gates disposed on a rear surface of the carrier body, each of the plurality of surface flow marks aligned with an axis of a corresponding planetary gear shaft, respectively.

A mold for producing a carrier body of a planetary gear carrier, comprising:

• a mold body;
• a cylindrical protrusion extending from a front surface of the mold body, wherein the protrusion defines a cylindrical interior space fluidly linked to an interior space of the mold body;
• and
• an injection gate disposed on a rear surface of the mold body and aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical protrusion, wherein the injection gate is configured to allow an injection nozzle to inject a molding material from outside the mold body into the interior space of the mold body.

A method of molding carrier body for a planetary gear carrier, the method comprising:

• providing a mold for the carrier body, wherein the mold comprises a cylindrical protrusion extending from a front surface of the mold;
• injecting a molding material into the mold through an injection gate disposed on a rear surface of the mold, wherein the injection gate is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical protrusion;
• and
• cooling the mold to set the molding material.