Using hotspot analysis to establish non-equidistant cooling channels automatically

In the injection molding (IM) process, the primary factor that affects product quality and production cycle time is the position of cooling channels; thus, this study has proposed a non-equidistant cooling channel (CC). This was calculated based on the heat difference of the plastic product after filling. In any part of the surface with high temperature, channels (center) were constructed close to the product, whereby the affected area was relatively small. Conversely, channels (center) were built far from the product in parts with low temperature, with the affected area being relatively large. This study applied this idea and used a self-designed application programming interface (API) to automatically establish the paths of non-equidistant cooling channels. The proposed cooling channels were input to Moldflow, after being compared with conventional and conformal channels, the proposed channel successfully reduced the maximum average temperature and temperature differences, thereby effectively enhancing the cooling efficiency and product quality.