Micro injection moulding process with high-temperature resistance resin insert produced with material jetting technology: Effect of part orientation

Abstract

Material jetting is an additive manufacturing technology used to produce resin parts with high accuracy and good surface finish. It is often used for visual prototypes or for rapid tooling applications to realise moulds for the standard injection moulding process because of the mechanical properties of the material. However, owing to the poor thermal properties of the resin, this technology is limited by the melting temperature of the material and the production rate. Currently, newer resins are able to withstand temperatures up to 250 °C. To enhance the potential of this technology, in this study the authors tested the performance of a mould insert for microinjection moulding application, produced with a high-temperature resin. In particular, it has been analysed how the orientation of the mould insert on the build plate significantly affects the insert resistance and surface roughness and consequently the quality of the moulded part. The results obtained open up new possibilities for testing a series of small batches and highlight new challenges to improve the process performance.