How to improve the production efficiency of injection molding machine
Production efficiency is an important index to measure the performance of injection molding machines. With the intensification of market competition and the continuous improvement of customer demand, injection molding enterprises urgently need to improve production efficiency to maintain competitiveness.
The following joint precision injection molding machine manufacturers introduce some methods and measures to help improve production efficiency.
1. Introduction of Digital Technology
In injection molding workshop management, work order dispatching, reporting, and self-inspection are core processes. With the introduction of digital platforms, these workflows have been comprehensively upgraded in the following five key aspects:
- Loaddoriented dispatching mode. With the digital platform, supervisors or PMCs can monitor each injection molding machine's working hours in real-time, prioritizing work orders for machines with lighter loads to ensure balanced and efficient production.
- Raw material adaptation strategy. In production, material changes require equipment cleaning, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. The digital platform intelligently matches work orders with the same material, reducing cleaning frequency and minimizing resource waste.
- Convenient access to work orders and drawings. Workers can instantly access work order details via the touchscreen terminal, including materials, product drawings, specifications, and SOPs, ensuring efficient operation and real-time information retrieval.
- Accurate work reporting and waste control. Workers report production via the touchscreen terminal, while the networked injection molding machine monitors in real-time and automatically alerts when the target is met. The system accurately compares data to calculate waste and prevent misreporting.
- Efficient quality inspection process. After workers report production, the system instantly pushes the information to the quality inspection department. Inspectors proceed to the machine for inspection and enter results via the touchscreen terminal, ensuring seamless workflow integration and full-quality traceability.
2. Clarify the Working Principle of the Injection Molding Machine
The working principle of the injection molding machine is mainly to heat the plastic raw materials, melt them into the mold, and get the plastic products we want after cooling.
From the basic principle, injection molding first is to add plastic raw materials (usually granular) to the cylinder of the injection molding machine. The barrel has a heating device that heats the plastic raw material to a molten state, similar to melting a solid "plastic ice cube" into a "plastic liquid." Then, the injection molding machine is pushed by a screw or plunger to inject the molten plastic into the pre-designed closed mold cavity at high pressure and speed.
The shape of the cavity of the precision injection mold determines the shape of the final plastic product. For example, if you want to produce a plastic toy figure, the mold cavity will have the outline of the figure, including the shape of the body, limbs, and other parts. After the injection of plastic, after a period of cooling, the molten plastic is solidified in the mold. Finally, open the mold and take out the molded plastic products.
Injection molding machine composition
3. Introduce Automation
Automation is an important means to enhance production efficiency and quality. By introducing automated equipment and technologies, production efficiency and quality can be significantly improved, while reducing labor costs and operational difficulties. Specific measures include:
- Selecting and applying appropriate automated equipment based on production needs.
- Coordinating automated equipment with manual operations to fully leverage the advantages of both automation and human labor.
- Maintaining and servicing automated equipment to ensure stable operation and extend service life.
4. Strengthen Supply Chain Management
The supply chain is one of the important links in the production process. By optimizing supply chain management, the response speed and quality of suppliers can be improved, and procurement costs and risks can be reduced. Specific measures include:
- Supplier selection and management, select strong and reliable suppliers to establish long-term cooperative relations.
- Make and implement purchasing strategy, make reasonable purchasing plan and strategy according to actual demand.
- Supply chain collaboration, through information sharing and collaborative planning to achieve efficient supply chain operation.
5. Enhance Mold Maintenance Awareness
To ensure the stability of injection molding production and extend the lifespan of equipment, proper maintenance and care of injection molds, injection machines, and peripheral equipment are essential. By implementing standardized inspections and record-keeping, equipment and mold failures can be reduced, production efficiency optimized, and material waste minimized.
Regarding mold management, a strict inspection system should be established, with molds being checked every shift and maintenance rules set. Technicians are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the molds to ensure they remain in good condition.
The smooth operation of equipment and molds contributes to stable production, controls material consumption, and improves both production efficiency and quality management.
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