Development and application of intelligent monitoring system for rapid tooling applied in low-pressure injection molding

Investment casting is widely used to manufacture a variety of metal components through wax patterns fabricated by low-pressure injection molding of wax. With the high labor cost in the precision casting industry, ensuring the quality of wax patterns during the production process is crucial to manufacturers. Accordingly, an intelligent monitoring system was developed for silicone rubber mold applied in injection molding of wax patterns. The cooling time of the injection molded part obtained by the intelligent monitoring system is very close to that obtained by the on-site data acquisition system. The relationship between the temperature of the injection molded part and the cooling time after the injection molding of wax can be monitored remotely. The developed intelligent monitoring system has the functions of identifying six process parameters, including injection temperature, coolant inlet temperature, coolant inlet coolant flow rate, injection pressure, injection time, and mold temperature. The developed intelligent monitoring system is very practical and provides good application prospects in the batch production process of wax patterns.