Mold and process for making a very thin wall article
AssigneeThermal Wave Molding Corp.
InventorsFrank J. Baresich, Robert F. Thompson
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AssigneeThermal Wave Molding Corp.
InventorsFrank J. Baresich, Robert F. Thompson
Estimating the term…
An injection mold and process are arranged to produce very thin articles, such as data discs. Molten plastic is injected into mold parts forming a thin cavity (17), in a cyclic molding process wherein the mold parts are subjected to a substantially constant temperature stimulus and rise and fall in temperature during injection and cooling of the molten plastic. Temperature boosting thermal insulation layers (11, 21) are placed along at least certain parts of the molding cavity surface. This elevates the temperature of the molted melt material for a time during injection. According to a calculated relationship, this thermal insulation is sized to permit the thin mold cavity to fill before heat transfer to the mold parts solidifies the molding material and blocks further flow. The temperature boosters can be contoured in thickness.
A process for optimizing a molding temperature during flow of molten molding material into a mold cavity, the molding material to flow while molten in the mold cavity from at least one point of injection, along a flow path having a width defined by cavity walls, and the molten material transferring heat energy to the mold cavity for cooling and setting the molten material in a shape determined by the mold cavity, said transferring of heat energy being determined by temperatures and thermal properties of the molten material and the mold cavity, the process comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.