Process simulation of powder injection moulding: Identification of significant parameters during mould filling phase

Simulating and optimising the powder injection process are complex problems since a number of linked material, geometry and process variables have to be considered. In addition, it is very difficult to identify critical parameters for designing binder systems, feedstocks, parts, moulds and processing conditions owing to the fact that multiple objective functions have to be considered. Towards the goal of identifying the level of significance of various material, process and geometry parameters during powder injection moulding, a systematic procedure for sensitivity analysis has been successfully developed for the mould filling phase of the PIM process. In this sensitivity analysis, all input parameters were defined for the mould filling simulation and all output parameters for optimum design of part, mould and processing conditions and dimensionless sensitivity values for all input and output parameters were calculated, which allow parameters with different units to be compared quantitatively. The sensitivity analysis procedure developed will be an invaluable tool for both the design engineer in the PIM industry who has to determine the critical input parameters for given design targets, as well as for the production engineer who has to optimise and monitor the production stage.