Machine Selection for Insert Injection Molding

If aPriori is configured to automatically select a machine, it selects the machine with the lowest clamp force that satisfies all the feasibility rules.

The feasibility rules require all the following:

• The mold required for the part can fit on the machine.

• The clamp force required for the part can be achieved by the machine.

• The shot size required for the part can be provided by the machine.

• The machine can open wide enough for the part to be removed.

• The machine's orientation (vertical or horizontal) is compatible with the Machine Orientation setup option (which is set to Vertical, by default).

• The machine's orientation is horizontal if the Eject Method setup option is set to Gravity.

• The machine's table type (rotary, shuttle, or no table) matches the Table Configuration setup option (which is set to No table, by default).

More specifically, a machine is feasible only if all the following are true:

• Machine clamp force is greater than or equal to the required force (see Required Clamp Force in the Plastic Molding chapter).

• Required shot size (see Required Shot Size in the Plastic Molding chapter) is a sufficiently small fraction (0.75 in starting point VPEs) of the machine property Shot Size. VPE administrators can customize the fraction with the cost model variable recommendedShotSizeLimitUpper.

• Required shot size (see Required Shot Size in the Plastic Molding chapter) is a sufficiently large fraction of the machine property Shot Size. VPE administrators can customize the fraction with the cost model variable recommendedShotSizeLimitLower (0 in starting point VPEs).

• Machine property Platen Width is greater than or equal the mold base width. For horizontal machines, if the machine property Platen Width is not populated with a value, the machine property Tie Bar Distance , Vert is used.

• Machine property Platen Length is greater than or equal the mold base length. For horizontal machines, if the machine property Platen Length is not populated with a value, the machine property Tie Bar Distance , Hor is used.

• Machine property Max Mold Height is greater than or equal to the mold base height.

• Travel distance for mold open or close (see Travel Distance in Insert Injection Molding Formulas) does not exceed the machine's Opening Stroke.

• The setup option Insert Injection Molding Machine Orientation either is No Preference or matches the machine property Orientation. The setup option is set to Vertical by default in starting point VPEs.

• The machine property Orientation is Horizontal if the setup option Part Eject Method is set to Gravity. The setup option is set to Manual by default.

• The machine property Table Configuration matches the setup option Vertical Table Configuration. The setup option is set to No Table by default in starting point VPEs.

Note: since no horizontal machine has a rotary or shuttle table, the setup option Vertical Table Configuration must be set to No Table, if the setup option Insert Injection Molding Machine Orientation is set to Horizontal; otherwise, no machine will be considered feasible.

Note: since no vertical machine can support part removal by gravity drop, the setup option Part Eject Method must be set to Manual (the default in starting point VPEs) or Robotic, if the setup option Insert Injection Molding Machine Orientation is set to Vertical; otherwise, no machine will be considered feasible.

aPriori calculates the mold dimensions, clamp force, and shot size required for a given part based on a number of factors, including the number of cavities in the mold. The number of cavities defaults to one, but can be specified in Process Setup Options or calculated by aPriori. Calculation of required shot size, required clamp force, and number of cavities is described in more detail in the Plastic Molding chapter: Required Shot Size, Required Clamp Force, and Number and Layout of Mold Cavities.

aPriori selects only from preferred machines, if there is a feasible preferred machine and the cost model variable usePreferredMachines is set to true (the default in starting point VPEs). If there is no feasible preferred machine, or if the cost model variable usePreferredMachines is set to false, aPriori selects from all machines. A machine is preferred if the machine property isPreferred (typically displayed as Is Preferred) is true.

To manually select a machine for a given process, select Edit > Routing Selection in the Manufacturing Process pane, right-click on the process in the Routing Selection window, and select Machine Selection from the context menu (see also Selecting a machine for an operation in Manufacturing Process Information).