Abstract
The demand for consistent and enhanced injection moulded product quality continues to rise. Modern injection moulding machines come with extensive control and measurement systems for machine control which are generally not available to the user. However, it is desired to actually measure variables that are closely related to the process itself. Sensors normally used to do this are typically invasive. However, as a result of the breadth of application of injection moulding machines, there remains a desire by the process user to be able to monitor some aspects of the process preferably in a non-invasive manner, in order to monitor, control and improve the output. In this paper, the potential for process and production measurement on injection moulding machines using non-invasive, energy measurements is presented. In addition, a comparison of electric and hydraulic injection moulding machines is given, that highlights the benefits of energy measurement to the process user. Finally, it is concluded that energy monitoring can provide a ‘fingerprint' of a process, and hence can be used for product quality control.
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