Diseño y construcción de una máquina inyectora de polipropileno para fines académicos e investigativos en el programa de Ingeniería Mecánica de la Universidad de Córdoba.

Abstract

Across the board, thermoplastic polymers are used for different purposes and as a result, its production is highly demanded in the market. Among the methods used for the casting of plastics, the most commonly used is the injection process which novice engineers need to know and be familiarized with. To meet that end, it was designed and built a vertical injection machine of thermoplastic which purpose is to inject polypropylene in a quantity that can be up to 120 grams. This machine is aimed to be integrated to the pedagogy and research in the mechanic engineering program of the University of Cordoba. To design this machine, it was necessary to start from the use of vertical die-cut and packing of metal plates which belongs to the University of Cordoba. Subsequently, some parts were subtracted as well as some components were added; important concepts were involved, such as heat transfer, hydraulics, engineering materials, materials mechanic, and the design of machinery for completing the whole design. From the quantity of the maximum mass to inject, there were established different parameters to the machine and the dimensioning of all its parts. In order to validate this project, all the parts were carefully examined to assure that any of them may have porosities inside or outside, and that each of them meet all the requirements in terms of dimensions. Crucial parameters during the process are operating temperature, time of sustained pressure, type of material and mold preheating.