A fuzzy PID thermal control system for casting dies

In high-pressure die casting processes, proper control of die temperature is essential for producing superior quality components and yielding high production rates. However, die temperature distribution depends on various die design and process variables for which accurate models are normally very difficult to obtain. In this paper, a new intelligent control scheme is proposed for die thermal management. In this scheme, extra cooling waterlines controlled by a pump and solenoid valves are attached to the established cooling channels. A fuzzy PID controller is designed to minimize the temperature differences between channels. The experimental results obtained from a laboratory die casting process simulator indicate that the developed control system is capable of adjusting the desirable supply of cooling water into multiple cooling lines. Hence, the local temperature distribution of the die insert may become more homogeneous.