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Publication
MICRO MOLD COOLING OPTIMIZATION USING A CONSTRUCTAL APPROACH
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Mold cooling is one of the most important phases in the molding cycle, comprising more than half of the
total cycle time. This affects the final quality of the part and the production rate of the mold. Therefore, the
design of a mold cooling channel system is essential to improve its thermal management and achieve a better
control over the cycle time. The hardening of small thin wall plastic parts with complex geometries is one of
the most challenging problems in the plastics injection industry, since we need to ensure quality, distortion free plastic parts. The solution lies in optimizing the cooling system, particularly the case of mold inserts
with unconventional geometries compatible with the geometry of the part. Using the constructal principle,
we develop a channel configuration as an umbrella for cooling a mold insert volume. This configuration
includes a central channel transporting the coolant until the tip of the mold insert where a certain number of
divergent channels depart performing the fluid flow return. A relation for the svelteness allows determining
the channels sizes to ensure negligible local head losses, depending on the angle and number of divergent
channels. Svelteness orientates the evolution of the flow towards smaller secondary channels returning the
flow with higher divergent angles.
Description
Keywords
Mold Cooling Thermal Management Constructal Pressure Loss Svelteness
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Rolinho Clemente, Miguel & Panão, Miguel. (2018). MICRO MOLD COOLING OPTIMIZATION USING A CONSTRUCTAL APPROACH. 455-466. 10.1615/TFEC2018.cmd.020968.
Publisher
Begellhouse