Guest post by Jing Wei, Senior Architecture Manager at Product R&D Division, Moldex3D
The multi-component molding (MCM) technology can efficiently integrate more than two separate plastic parts and is widely applied in the industry. Through CAE analysis, manufacturers can simulate product quality in advance. However, if we only consider the processing of the second shot, the product quality and design optimization cannot be ensured. Due to the effects of multiple injections and numerous materials, the part insert status at the end of the first shot will affect the part warpage behaviors in the second shot. Thus, we need to better control the effects of the previous shot on the part warpage.
How the Material Properties of Previous Shot Affects the Second Shot
The mechanical and thermal expansion properties of the materials are important factors that affect warpage behaviors. In the MCM process, the final product might be assembled from more than two materials. If the part insert in the second shot is made from fiber-reinforced plastics, its anisotropic properties will affect the final product’s deformation. Moreover, the part insert is from the previous shot, so the fiber orientation caused by the previous shot will be highly relevant to the second shot (Fig. 1).