Glossary

Terms

Injection Molding Machine Terms

Machine Components & Functions

Injection Unit – The part of the machine responsible for melting plastic and injecting it into the mold, ensuring precise molding.
Clamping Unit – Holds the mold shut during injection and cooling, crucial for high-quality plastic molding.
Barrel – A heated chamber where plastic resin is melted before injection, essential in the injection molding process.
Screw – Rotates within the barrel to mix, melt, and push the material forward, optimizing plastic flow.
Nozzle – The exit point through which molten plastic enters the mold, ensuring efficient plastic distribution.
Hopper – A container that holds and feeds plastic pellets into the barrel, key to smooth injection molding operations.
Tie Bars – Structural components that align and support the movement of the clamping unit for precision molding.
Platen – Metal plates that secure the mold halves in place, critical in injection molding machine stability.

Process & Operational Terms

Cycle Time – The duration of a full molding process, including injection, cooling, and part ejection, essential for efficient production.
Shot Size – The volume of plastic injected into the mold in each cycle, a key factor in part consistency.
Clamping Force – The pressure applied to keep the mold securely closed, ensuring defect-free molding.
Screw Back Pressure – The resistance applied to the screw during melting to enhance material mixing and quality.
Screw Recovery Time – The period needed for the screw to return to its initial position after injection, optimizing production speed.
Cushion – A small amount of material left in the barrel to maintain consistent pressure for accurate molding.
Sprue – The channel through which molten plastic flows from the nozzle to the mold, an integral part of mold design.
Gate – The entry point where plastic enters the mold cavity, influencing the final part’s structure.
Runner – Pathways in the mold that distribute plastic to multiple cavities, key to multi-cavity molding.
Flash – Excess plastic that leaks out of the mold cavity, often due to high pressure or misalignment, affecting product quality.
Ejector Pins – Pins that push the finished part out of the mold after cooling, improving automation in molding.
Cooling Time – The time required for the molded part to solidify before ejection, impacting production efficiency.

Material & Defect Terms

Resin – The base plastic material used in the injection molding process, determining part durability and flexibility.
Thermoplastic – A plastic type that can be repeatedly melted and reshaped (e.g., ABS, polypropylene, nylon), offering recycling benefits.
Thermoset – A plastic that hardens permanently after molding and cannot be remelted (e.g., epoxy, phenolic), ideal for high-heat applications.
Sink Marks – Surface depressions caused by uneven cooling, commonly found in thick-walled parts.
Short Shot – A defect where the mold is not completely filled due to low pressure or temperature, leading to incomplete parts.
Warping – The deformation of a part due to uneven cooling or material stress, a challenge in complex molding.
Burn Marks – Darkened or discolored areas resulting from material overheating, often due to excessive injection speed.
Jetting – A surface defect caused by excessive injection speed, leading to irregular flow patterns.

Cutting Chamber
The main section of a shredder or granulator where materials are fed and cut by rotating blades or knives.
Rotor
A rotating component in shredders and granulators equipped with blades that shred or granulate materials as it spins.
Fixed Blade
A stationary knife in the cutting chamber that works with the rotor blades to slice through materials.
Screen
A perforated metal sheet under the cutting chamber that determines the size of the output particles by allowing only appropriately sized pieces to pass through.
Hopper
The top opening of a shredder or granulator where materials are fed into the machine for processing.
Shaft
The central axle in a shredder or granulator that holds and rotates the cutting blades or tools. Machines may have single or multiple shafts for different applications.
Drive System
The mechanism that powers the machine, typically including an electric motor or hydraulic system that drives the rotor or shafts.
Feed Rollers
Mechanized rollers that grip and push materials into the cutting chamber, ensuring consistent feeding in shredders.
Grates
Replaceable screens or bars that control the size of the material exiting the shredder or granulator.
Infeed Conveyor
A conveyor belt system that moves materials into the shredder or granulator, allowing for continuous and automated feeding.
Discharge Conveyor
A conveyor system that removes processed materials from the shredder or granulator and transports them to the next stage of processing or storage.
Overload Protection
A safety feature that shuts down the machine if it is overburdened with material to prevent mechanical damage.
Flywheel
A rotating wheel that stabilizes the machine’s energy and ensures smoother operation during cutting or shredding.
Blade Gap
The precise spacing between the rotor and fixed blades, critical for effective cutting and material size control.
Hydraulic Ram
A powered component that pushes bulky materials into the cutting chamber, commonly used in industrial shredders for heavy-duty applications.
Cutting Angle
The angle at which blades meet materials, which influences the efficiency and quality of the shredding or granulating process.
Counter Knife
A stationary knife positioned opposite the rotating blades, creating a shearing action to cut through materials.
Wear Plate
A replaceable metal plate that protects machine components from abrasion and damage caused by processed materials.
Cutter Block
The assembly that holds and supports the cutting knives or blades on the rotor.
Torque Limiter
A mechanism that prevents damage by disengaging the drive system if the machine encounters excessive resistance or a blockage.
Baffle Plate
A device inside the hopper or cutting chamber that helps guide materials into the blades for even cutting and shredding.
Hydraulic Power Pack
A system that supplies hydraulic pressure to components like the ram or feed rollers, enabling smooth and powerful operation.
Bed Knife
A stationary cutting blade mounted in the cutting chamber that works in tandem with the rotor knives to slice materials.
Screen Basket
A cylindrical or semi-cylindrical screen used in some shredders or granulators to filter processed materials based on size.
Pulley System
A series of wheels or belts that transfer power from the motor to the rotor or other moving parts of the machine.
Chipper Rotor
A specialized rotor design with large, sharp blades, often used for shredding wood and fibrous materials.
Claw Cutter
A blade design resembling a claw, often used in granulators to achieve efficient cutting and reduce material stress.
Reversible Blades
Cutting blades that can be flipped and used on both sides, extending their lifespan and reducing maintenance costs.
Material Feed Sensor
A sensor that monitors the flow of materials into the machine and adjusts feed rates to prevent overloading or jams.
Dust Extraction System
An integrated system that removes dust and fine particles created during the shredding or granulating process to maintain a clean and safe environment.
Auto-Reverse Function
A feature that automatically reverses the rotor’s direction if a jam occurs, preventing damage to the machine.
Knife Holder
The structure on the rotor that secures individual cutting blades in place.
Edge Hardening
A treatment applied to blade edges to improve durability and resistance to wear when cutting abrasive materials.
Magnetic Separator
A machine add-on used to remove ferrous metals from shredded or granulated materials, ensuring cleaner outputs.

Glossary

Injection Molding Machine Terms

Machine Components & Functions

Process & Operational Terms

Material & Defect Terms

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