Warpage and Shrinkage Analysis and Optimization of Rapid Tooling Molded thin Wall Component Using Modified Particle Swarm Algorithm

Abstract

This paper presents a systematic methodology to determine optimal injection molding conditions for minimum warpage and shrinkage in a thin wall relay part using modified particle swarm optimization algorithm (MPSO). Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were injected in a thin wall relay component for different processing parameters: melt temperature, packing pressure and packing time. Further, Taguchi’s L9 (3[Formula: see text] orthogonal array is used for conducting simulation analysis to consider the interaction effects of the above parameters. A predictive mathematical model for shrinkage and warpage is developed in terms of the above process parameters using regression analysis. ANOVA analysis is performed to establish statistical significance within the injection molding parameters. The analytical model is further optimized using a newly developed MPSO algorithm and the process parameters values are predicted for minimizing shrinkage and warpage. The predicted values of shrinkage and warpage using MPSO algorithm are improved by approximately 30% as compared to the initial simulation values and comparable to previous literature results.