Nozzle and method for making a nozzle with a removable and replaceable heating device

A method for heating a melt in an injection molding system, comprising:

• receiving the melt in a melt channel of a nozzle body;
• and
• operating a heater that is secured in a longitudinal slot of an elongated heater holding portion formed in a side of the nozzle body wherein the heater holding portion is configured to laterally receive and releasably secure the heater therein.

An injection molding nozzle, comprising:

• an injection nozzle body including a melt channel and a heater holding portion, the heater holding portion having a slot with an opening adjacent to an outlet of the melt channel on one end and a flat surface on an opposite end;
• and
• a heating device releasably secured in the slot of the heater holding portion, the heating device having a flat surface that abuts the flat surface of the slot when the heating device is fully secured in the slot.

An injection molding system comprising:

• a heater device;
• an injection nozzle having a nozzle body, said nozzle body having a heater holding portion configured to laterally receive the heater device and provide a clamping force upon the heater device, such that the nozzle body and the heater device are in substantially intimate contact, but remain releasably secured.