Optimal process conditions of shrinkage and warpage of thin-wall parts

Optimal process conditions of thin-wall injection molding of a cellular phone cover were investigated with the consideration of interaction effects between process parameters. L-27 experimental tests based on Taguchi's method were performed, and then Cyclone Scanner, PolyCAD and PolyWorks were used to measure the shrinkage and warpage of the thin-wall injected parts to determine the optimal process conditions. Based on the results of the analysis of variables and the F-test, interaction effects for each observed factor were determined. The results indicated that the packing pressure was the most important process parameter affecting the shrinkage and warpage of the thin-wall part. The optimal process conditions were different for the shrinkage and the warpage. This was because during the injection process, the mechanisms affecting shrinkage or warpage were different. Compared with the results obtained with simplified thin-wall parts in the literature, it was found that the geometry of a real commercial part did affect the optimal process conditions and the order of influence of process parameters. The optimal process conditions determined by Taguchi's method for reducing the shrinkage and warpage were verified experimentally in this work.