Optimization of runner sizes and process conditions considering both part quality and manufacturing cost in injecting molding

Abstract

Part quality and manufacturing cost are the key concerns of injection molding designers. The desired design can produce high quality parts with minimum manufacturing cost. The factors affecting part quality and manufacturing cost are discussed and a multi-objective optimization methodology presented to optimize runner sizes and process conditions simultaneously to achieve high quality parts with low manufacturing cost. This methodology optimizes a population of solutions and promotes individuals within the population according to Pareto-optimal criteria. A set of Pareto solutions was obtained, whereby each solution was both better and worse in at least one objective compared to another individual of the population. A weighted sum approach was employed to select the appropriate design parameters from the Pareto set.