Typical injection molding defects are entrapped air, porosity, sink marks, joint lines, deformation, and misaligned fiber orientations. A great example are automotive connectors where complexity increases, tolerances get tighter and the goal is zero defect production. Gas-assisted foam molding as well as miniaturization leads to parts that traditional inspection methods cannot cope with.

Computed tomography (CT) measurements provide the unique ability to get a full understanding of a part's quality. It does not stop at surface data from easily accessible geometries, which also conventional coordinate measuring machines (CMM) or optical scanners deliver. CT gives you true insights such as the detection and analysis of injection molding defects, and the ability to acquire all dimensions even inside the parts. Surface characteristics such as color, transparency, or reflectivity are no problem for CT scanners. Full volume measurement provides the quickest possible path from design to manufacturing.

Volume Graphics supports all phases of injection molding from part design and process simulation to inline inspection. Dimensional analyses of simulation models can help to find the best parameter set as an input for the first mold. First article inspection of dimensions, form, and shape are rounded up by the ability to qualify and quantify injection molding defects such as porosity and inclusions as well as fiber orientations and volume fractions. Results of fiber and porosity analyses can be mapped onto PATRAN ® and NASTRAN ® volume meshes for exchange with simulation solutions such as Digimat.

Our Manufacturing Geometry Correction Module connects the metrology department with the mold maker and enables an easy way to identify part warpage and export compensated geometry to the tooling department for mold correction. Finally, all parameters such as dimensions, wall thicknesses, and GD&T analyses, as well as porosity & inclusions are even available from our inline inspection solution for 24/7 production. Volume Graphics uniquely connects the CAD and PMI data with simulation and tooling.

Warpage and shrinkage in plastic injection parts need to be measured during the design and manufacturing phase. Dimensioning and GD&T analyses can be fully automated and distributed by customizable reports.

Alignments include RPS, 3-2-1, and sequential alignment, as well as best fit and feature-based fit. 2D needle and 3D color-coded plots provide an easy-to-understand and global overview, supporting manual or rule-based annotations.

All GD&T analysis types are supported. Measurement templates are universal and can be applied to CAD and CT data and also to meshes from molding simulations or optical scan data. Downstream communication is using free viewers and fully customizable Excel Reporting.

Wall thickness influences the behavior of the melt front and the homogeneity of the temperature in the part during the filling process and the cool down. A thorough analysis of the actual wall thickness provides more insight to potential problems resulting in warpage.

Volume Graphics provides two options for wall thickness measurement:

1. Direction-based calculation to determine the distance between opposite walls, a standard with little forgiveness on angular deviations.
2. Sphere-based calculation by filling the volume with maximum sized spheres, providing results for any complex geometry.

The melt front can entrap air resulting in pores, and burnt material or contaminated raw material may produce inclusions in injection-molded parts.

The porosity/inclusion analysis locates pores, holes, and inclusions and documents detailed quantitative information and statistics about these defects. The measured mean porosity can be loaded into an existing PATRAN ® or NASTRAN ® mesh to compare it with simulated injection molding results, or for use in FEM simulations. The analyses can also be exported to MAGMASOFT ® as .emv file.

Injection molding of fiber-reinforced compounds requires the control of the fiber orientations which determine the mechanical properties of the component. Fiber orientations and fiber volume fractions can be derived from CT scans and mapped onto existing volume meshes in the PATRAN ® or NASTRAN ® format—either for direct use in FEM simulation or for validation of fiber distributions from injection molding simulations. A dedicated format for export into Digimat® is available.

Injection-molded parts shrink and warp due to the material and heat distribution and cool-down behavior.

The Manufacturing Geometry Correction Module analyzes the deviation in order to export compensated surfaces for the mold maker. By adding the compensated warpage deviation to the shrinkage information, the output can be used to update and optimize the mold, with minimal tool rework. Quality control includes draft angle and curvature analyses. It can also reconstruct surface patches by shrink wrapping it to the scan or the mold.

The Manufacturing Geometry Correction Module establishes a digital workflow and communication between design, try out, the quality department and manufacturing.

• VGSTUDIO MAX Dimensional Metrology Features
• VGSTUDIO MAX Porosity/Inclusion Analysis Features
• VGSTUDIO MAX Tool Correction Features
• VGSTUDIO MAX Fiber Composite Material Analysis Features

• Webinar "What's New in Porosity Analysis"
• Brochure "Quality Control in Injection Molding with Volume Graphics Software" — English
• Whitepaper "How (Not) To Digitalize Your Plastic Injection Molding Design Process"
• Using the local fiber orientation and fiber to volume fraction in μCT data to improve the simulated failure location and strain at break of Long Fiber Thermoplastic (LFT) parts (Technical Paper, Asia Pacific Conference on Non-Destructive Testing 2017)
• Using the local fiber orientation and fiber to volume fraction in μCT data to improve the simulated failure location and strain at break of Long Fiber Thermoplastic (LFT) parts (Presentation)