Machines for Assembly Molding
In starting point VPEs, the Insert Pick and Place process selects one of three virtual machines, reflecting either manual or robotic pick and place:
• Manual: inserts are loaded into the mold manually.
• 3-axis: inserts are loaded into the mold with a 3-axis robot.
• 6-axis: inserts are loaded into the mold with a 6-axis robot.
Users can request a particular type of machine (manual, 3-axis, or 6-axis) with the setup option
Manual or Robotic Loading.
Insert Injection Molding machines are assumed to perform single-shot, single-material, single-color molding. The machines are typically vertical (with a vertical draw direction), but horizontal machines are included in starting point VPEs as well. Some vertical machines have a shuttle or rotary table, which allows inserts to be loaded into one mold while injection molding is performed with another mold.
Users can request a particular machine orientation (vertical or horizontal) or a particular table orientation (no table, shuttle, or rotary) with the setup options
Insert Injection Molding Machine Orientation and
Vertical Table Configuration.
Brand names of IM and SFM machines in the baseline VPE include the following:
• Arburg
• Engel
• Magna
• Milacron
• PRM
Starting point VPEs also include a number of virtual machines.
The characteristics of these machines fall into the following ranges:
Machine Characteristic | Low End | High End |
Overhead Rate (USD/hr) | 2.23 | 192.03 |
Dry Cycle Time (sec) | 2 | 12.5 |
Injection Rate (mm3/sec) | 26,000 | 3,710,000 |
Clamping Force (kN) | 27.22 | 55,000 |
Shot Size (g) | 9.5 | 72,000 |
Max Mold Height (mm) | 175 | 2,500 |
Min Mold Height (mm) | 100 | 1,500 |
Vertical and Horizontal Tie Bar Distance (mm) | 300 | 2,500 |