A principal component analysis model-based predictive controller for controlling part warpage in plastic injection molding

Quality control is an important aspect of manufacturing processes. Product quality of injection molded parts is influenced by the injection molding process. In this study statistical tools were used to develop a model that relates injection molding process variables to part quality. A statistically based model predictive control algorithm was developed for controlling part quality with manipulated variables coolant flow rate and coolant temperature. This approach replaces the need of off-line quality measurement and provides real-time injection modeling quality control.