# US 8,770,968 B2 · Injection molding tool with embedded induction heater > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,968 B2 - Document ID: US8770968B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/446,092 - Filed: 2012-04-13 - Published: 2013-10-17 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-13 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Julien P. Mourou; Urban J. De Souza - Inventors: Julien P. Mourou; Urban J. De Souza - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770968B2 ## CPC - B29C 45/73: of the mould {(B29C45/2642 and B29C45/2737 take precedence)} - B29C 33/06: using radiation {, e.g. electro-magnetic waves, induction heating} - C23C 24/08: by application of heat or pressure and heat (C23C24/04 takes precedence) - H05B 6/105: {using a susceptor} - H05B 6/36: Coil arrangements - B29C 45/7312: {Construction of heating or cooling fluid flow channels} - B29C 2035/0811: {using induction} - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract An injection molding tool includes a first mold die having a first tool face and a second mold die having a second tool face. The second mold die is configured to abut the first mold die, wherein the first tool face and second tool face are configured to partially define a part cavity between the first mold die and the second mold die. An induction heating element is embedded into the first mold die such that the induction heating element defines a portion of the first tool face. The induction heating element includes an electrical conductor, an electrically insulating material disposed about the conductor, and a ferromagnetic material disposed adjacent the electrical conductor and electrically insulating material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An injection molding tool comprising: a first mold die having a first tool face; a second mold die having a second tool face and configured to abut the first mold die, the first tool face and second tool face configured to partially define a part cavity between the first mold die and the second mold die; and an induction heating element embedded into the first mold die such that the induction heating element defines a portion of the first tool face, the induction heating element including: an electrical conductor; an electrically insulating material disposed about the conductor; and a ferromagnetic material disposed adjacent the electrical conductor and the electrically insulating material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The injection molding tool of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic material of the induction heating element defines a portion of the first tool face. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The injection molding tool of claim 1, wherein the induction heating element further includes a bridge plate disposed between the electrically insulating material and the ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The injection molding tool of claim 1, wherein each of the first mold die and the second mold die comprise a non-ferromagnetic material, the induction heating element being embedded into the non-ferromagnetic material of the first mold die. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The injection molding tool of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the ferromagnetic material is configured to increase through inductive heating when an alternating current waveform is provided to the electrical conductor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The injection molding tool of claim 1, further comprising an alternating current waveform generator in electrical communication with the electrical conductor and configured to transmit an alternating current electrical signal through the electrical conductor, and wherein the alternating current electrical signal is configured to inductively heat the ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The injection molding tool of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first mold die and the second mold die define a resin inlet port in fluid communication with the part cavity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The injection molding tool of claim 7, further comprising an injector in fluid communication with the resin inlet port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The injection molding tool of claim 1, wherein the induction heating element is a first induction heating element; and further comprising a second induction heating element embedded into the second mold die such that the second induction heating element defines a portion of the second tool face. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The injection molding tool of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor and the electrically insulating material disposed about the conductor comprise a wire. ### Claim 11 An injection molding tool comprising: a first mold die having a first tool face; a second mold die having a second tool face and configured to abut the first mold die, the first tool face and second tool face configured to partially define a part cavity between the first mold die and the second mold die; and an induction heating element embedded into the first mold die such that the induction heating element defines a portion of the first tool face, the induction heating element including: an electrical conductor; an electrically insulating material disposed about the conductor; a ferromagnetic material disposed adjacent the electrical conductor and the electrically insulating material, and defining a portion of the first tool face; and wherein each of the first mold die and the second mold die are formed from a non-ferromagnetic material, the induction heating element being embedded into the non-ferromagnetic material of the first mold die. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The injection molding tool of claim 11, wherein the induction heating element further includes a bridge plate disposed between the electrically insulating material and the ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The injection molding tool of claim 11, wherein the temperature of the ferromagnetic material is configured to increase through inductive heating when an alternating current waveform is provided to the electrical conductor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The injection molding tool of claim 11, further comprising an alternating current waveform generator in electrical communication with the electrical conductor and configured to transmit an alternating current electrical signal through the electrical conductor, and wherein the alternating current electrical signal is configured to inductively heat the ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The injection molding tool of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first mold die and the second mold die define a resin inlet port in fluid communication with the part cavity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The injection molding tool of claim 11, wherein the induction heating element is a first induction heating element; and further comprising a second induction heating element embedded into the second mold die such that the second induction heating element defines a portion of the second tool face.