Enabling Micro Injection Moulding Using a Soft Tooling Process Chain with Inserts Made of Mortar Material

Kilian Krüger,Martin Kain,Guido Tosello,Matteo Calaon,David Bue Pedersen,Yang Zhang,Hans Nørgaard Hansen

doi:10.3390/mi12080857

Kilian Krüger, Martin Kain + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12080857

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Journal: Micromachines	Publication Date: Jul 22, 2021
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Technical University of Denmark

Abstract

The manufacturing of inserts for micro injection moulding made of mortar material is presented in this work. The fabrication of the mortar insert described in this publication relied on a versatile and relatively fast rapid prototyping process based on soft tooling. The mortar insert has a QR code with micro features on its surface, which was replicated in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer by the micro injection moulding process. With this approach, it is possible to fabricate hard inserts for micro injection moulding purposes that are able to compete with conventional-made inserts made of tool steel.

Highlights

Introduction and MotivationThe use of replication technologies for micro manufacturing has evolved over the the 10–15 abilityyears of mortar replicate microcomponents features of aofmaster geometry.processIt was chain demonlast [1,2]. toOne of the main the replication is the strated how a soft master geometry, for example made by additive manufacturing, can tool, which contains the negative geometry of the part, i.e., cavities on the final part are form the starting point of the soft tooling process chain.protrusions in the tool
This paper describes how mortar can be applied as a tool material in a soft tooling process chain for micro injection moulding
The acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic component made with both inserts is transparent

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and MotivationThe use of replication technologies for micro manufacturing has evolved over the the 10–15 abilityyears of mortar replicate microcomponents features of aofmaster geometry.processIt was chain demonlast [1,2]. toOne of the main the replication is the strated how a soft master geometry, for example made by additive manufacturing, can tool, which contains the negative geometry of the part, i.e., cavities on the final part are form the starting point of the soft tooling process chain.protrusions in the tool. The use of replication technologies for micro manufacturing has evolved over the the 10–15 abilityyears of mortar replicate microcomponents features of aofmaster geometry.process. It was chain demonlast [1,2]. The process chains available to create tools for micro injection. The test geometry this astudy a micro-milled. QR which been transmoulding can be based onfor either directwas or indirect approach [3].code, In the directhad approach, the ferred to the surface of the mortar insert by casting in a soft mould. The surface of final tool geometry is fabricated directly—for example, by means of machining processes.

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Conclusion