Optimization of Injection Molding Process of Transparent Complex Multi-Cavity Parts Based on Kriging Model and Various Optimization Techniques

Abstract

The injection molding process of a mold with multiple cavities can reduce the mold space, but the process is complicated and the product is prone to warpage. In order to reduce the transparent parts warpage of such a mold, by optimizing injection molding process parameters, an optimization technique combining orthogonal experiment, Kriging model and an optimization algorithm is proposed. First, the orthogonal experiment is designed, based on Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) simulation results, while the significant factors affecting the warpage are selected. On this basis, the Kriging model is established to map the nonlinear function relationship between the significant factors and the warpage. Specifically in this paper, four types of correlation functions, affecting the model precision accuracy, are used to establish the Kriging model and the high-precision accuracy model is selected. A numerical optimization algorithm, direct search approach and global exploration method are used to optimize the model, so as to obtain the optimal injection molding parameters producing the minimum warpage. Finally, CAE simulation and experimental validation prove the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed optimization method.