Process Monitoring is Crucial in Tight Tolerance HPM Plastic Injection
September 7, 2023 | Blog, Engineering Capabilities Blogs, Materials Blogs
Plastic Injection Molding HPM (high-performance material) parts with tight tolerances demand that processes are repeatable within established limits. Performance Plastics utilizes best practices to eliminate process inefficiencies and unplanned maintenance, when working with materials such as Torlon (PAI), PEEK, Ultem (PEI) and FEP/PFA. Simple processes must take place every shift to ensure that process and production are on target.
- Process Validation
Process validation procedures must be completed prior to establishing process monitoring. A validated process must run at complete cycle efficiency, producing little to no scrap for no less than 8 hours. Evaluations and considerations must be analyzed whether a process can be repeated from one run to the next.
- Process Installation Qualification – Making Sure Everything Works
- Operational Qualification – Test, Test, and Test Again
- Performance Qualification – Testing the actual Part.
- Process Monitoring
Many companies fail to understand that a similar press or mold does not guarantee the tight tolerance processes will be repeated, especially when working with HPMs. Each press must have its own process monitoring record, and sister molds need to be approached as completely different molds.
Areas that must be constantly monitored:
- Fill Time
- Peak Pressure
- Part Weight
- Cycle
Each value must have control limits and must be within the window established for these limits to control.
- Basic Molding Fundamentals
The key to the HPM process consistency is the care and inspection of molds before each job.
- Molds are cleaned and inspected.
- Nozzles are inspected for blowback.
- Hot runner point temperatures are verified.
- Water is verified at the beginning of each run.
Performance Plastics embraces best practices in order to provide our customers with the quality and repeatability required for HPM tight tolerance medical, aerospace, and industrial parts.
For more information on how Performance Plastics manages our best practices, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at [email protected], or visit our website and www.performanceplastics.com
