| Abstract: | Because heat is convected by the motion of material in the cavity of a compression mold, the time-averaged heating load on the cavity surface is nonuniform. In rapid production of large, thin parts, this can lead to large variations in cavity surface temperature when the mold is heated by the usual uniform distribution of heating lines. In this paper, a new method is developed for optimizing the mold heating design so that this nonuniform heating requirement can be satisfied with a minimum variation in cavity surface temperature. Oil heating is considered specifically, but the method can also be used for stream or electric heat. The optimal position and power supply for each heating line in the mold is determined by combining mathematical programming techniques with an analysis of the steady temperature field in the mold. The nonuniform heating load on the cavity surface is represented by a time-averaged steady heat transfer coefficient calculated from the transient temperature distribution in a polyester sheet molding compound as it fills the mold cavity. The design method is applied to an example mold for a large flat panel. At a one-minute cycle, the optimal heating design dramatically reduces nonuniformity in cavity surface temperature compared with a conventional distribution of heating lines. The optimal design is remarkably simple, uses only conventional equipment, and involves only half the customary number of heating lines. Nevertheless, it still has sufficient flexibility to adjust for changes in cycle time without sacrificing uniformity in cavity surface temperature. |
