Process for producing shaped parts of metals
AssigneeThe Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
InventorsMasashi Kato, Kazuo Kitamura, Shinichi Okimoto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A metallic feed initially in a solid state is fed into a cylinder barrel of an injection molding machine. The metallic feed is melted by applying heat to the metallic feed from outside the cylinder barrel and by heat produced from frictional and shearing forces generated by rotation of a screw housed within the cylinder barrel. The cylinder barrel and screw define at least a feed zone, a compression zone and an accumulating zone. After melting and passing through each of the three zones, the metallic feed is injected into a die, to thereby form a shaped part. The temperature of the metallic feed is controlled to be above the liquidus of the metallic feed during the injecting process.
Claims10
A method for producing a shaped metal part, comprising the steps of:
- feeding a metallic feed in a solid state into a cylinder barrel of an injection molding machine, wherein the cylinder barrel includes at least a feed zone, a compression zone and an accumulating zone, and houses a screw rotatably mounted within the cylinder barrel;
- advancing the metallic feed from the feed zone through the compression zone to the accumulating zone by rotating the screw;
- melting the metallic feed by applying heat to the metallic feed from outside the cylinder barrel and by heat produced from frictional and shearing forces generated as a result of rotation of the screw;
- and
- injecting the metallic feed from the accumulating zone into a die to form the shaped metal part, while controlling the temperature of the metallic feed to be above the liquidus of the metallic feed during said injecting step,
- wherein the temperature is at least 15.degree. C. higher than the liquidus of the metallic feed and no greater than 50.degree. C. higher than the liquidus of the metallic feed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.