Retrospective Analysis of Rubber Injector Molding Design Technologies

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence is fundamentally a product of reverse engineering, emphasizing the importance of understanding its principles. It highlights the necessity of regulating and containing this process while recognizing it as a distinct science with numerous subdivisions, including reverse engineering in materials, design, geometry, robotics, and more, rather than merely viewing it as a duplicative technique. In manufacturing and production technologies, reverse engineering assists design engineers in rapidly obtaining critical information about benchmark products. Within this context, the initial aim of this work was to provide research-based statistics for designing a rubber mold without access to a drafted sketch of the rubber product. Using a 3D-scanned model of a rubber sample, the product was scanned, and the scanned image was inspected. It became evident that the sample contained multiple centroids for the circular cylinders that contributed to the product's seemingly symmetric shape. However, a single centroid for these cylinders would have been a sufficient condition for symmetry. This discrepancy revealed by the scanned model shifted the research focus from a methodical analysis to a qualitative exploration of challenges. Understanding the ingredients and formulation of the rubber compound became essential for producing a reliable initial design sketch.The elastomer's complex behavior under extreme heat and compression during the curing process introduces significant challenges in the rubber component's geometry. This thesis investigates unwanted geometric changes in rubber components during the curing process. Ultimately, it examines the impact of injection molding and rubber compounds on the components' geometry. The study also delves into reverse engineering techniques for rubber products, identifies influential factors, and provides practical guidelines for designing a reversely engineered sketch.This project was commissioned by Ravelast Polymers and carried out in collaboration with company experts specializing in polymer and chemical industries