Injection Molding – Clemson Composites https://clemsoncomposites.com A new center at Clemson University Fri, 03 Apr 2020 16:55:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 Enabling Industry 4.0 for Multi-tiered Quality and Process Control in Precision Manufacturing of Composites https://clemsoncomposites.com/enabling-industry-4-0-for-multi-tiered-quality-and-process-control-in-precision-manufacturing-of-composites/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=enabling-industry-4-0-for-multi-tiered-quality-and-process-control-in-precision-manufacturing-of-composites Mon, 30 Mar 2020 18:42:37 +0000 https://clemsoncomposites.com/?p=249351

Enabling Industry 4.0 for Multi-tiered Quality and Process Control in Precision Manufacturing of Composites

Engel Injection Molding Machine

AS PART OF A SCRA GRANT for the unification of various connected systems, Clemson researchers deployed a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system program called Ignition on a Windows server hosted at a Clemson University data center. The system was connected to a MySQL database for continuous logging of all desired parameters for the various devices and machines connected to Ignition.

DATA ACQUISITION

The program enables connections via OPC UA, MQTT, Modbus TCP, and various proprietary drivers (e.g. Siemens, Omron). A wide range of devices were connected to Ignition, including the injection molding machine (through a route ending in an OPC UA server), an in-mold sensor system, a twin screw extruder, a remote data acquisition system for downstream extrusion equipment, and multiple remote temperature and input sensors throughout the labs. Interfaces were made to visualize the data from these systems on both desktop and mobile devices and enable control where available.

PARTNERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

PROJECT GOALS

  1. Develop methods to predict part quality of an injection molded part using process parameters and data from the machine.
  2. Develop database and machine learning systems designed to work with injection molding processes.
  3. Develop unique tool with sensor to measure temperatures and pressure inside the cavity.
  4. Develop more robust feedback loop to optimize process parameters.

PARTNERS

  • South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA)

PUBLICATIONS

Engel injection molding

]]> Design and analysis of roller bearing cages https://clemsoncomposites.com/design-and-analysis-of-roller-bearing-cages/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=design-and-analysis-of-roller-bearing-cages Fri, 27 Mar 2020 16:48:54 +0000 https://clemsoncomposites.com/?p=249217

Design and analysis of roller bearing cages

JTEKT Greenville location

IN COLLABORATION WITH JTEKT KOYO, Clemson researchers advanced the fundamental understanding of material and process dynamics for optimal design of a bearing’s polymeric cage.

PROCESS DYNAMICS

JTEKT North America is a leader in automotive bearings. It has been a part of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research since 2006.

roller illustration

OBJECTIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS

MAIN TASKS

  1. MATERIAL SELECTION and process physics optimization
    • Design of the cage geometry
    • Material selection
    • Design of the mold
    • Fabrication of the mold
    • Injection molding of cage
    • Injection molding of tensile specimens
    • Characterization and testing
  2. EFFECT OF FLUID such as moisture and oil on the properties and geometrical dimensions of polymeric cages
  3. FORCE COMPUTATION for assembly/disassembly of rollers in cage by modeling the geometry of the cage and the deformation mechanism. The required force to push out the roller from the cage was calculated according to the stiffness of the cage material.

PARTNERS

  • Koyo
  • JTEKT Corporation
roller cage

PARTNERS

  • Koyo
  • JTEKT Corporation

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