THERMOREGULATOR
A mold temperature controller, also known as temperature regulator, as a device used in molding industry processes. Its main function is to control and regulate the mold or any tools’ temperature used in molding process. Maintaining desired mold temperatures is vital achieving high quality and consistent results in molding processes.
A Mold Temperature Controller consists of:
- Temperature Sensors: The controller equipped with temperature sensors, which monitor the mold temperature.
- Control Unit: The control unit processes received data temperature from the sensors and compares it with the desired reference value.
- Heating/Cooling Elements: The mold temperature controller has mechanisms for heating or cooling the mold as required. Electric heating elements or cooling system (such as a chiller) applied to adjust the mold temperature.
- Fluid Circulation: In many cases, the mold temperature controller transfers heat by means of a liquid, usually water or oil. The controller provides the desired temperature by circulating the liquid through mold channels or jackets to control the temperature.
- Regulation: The controller continuously adjusts the heating or cooling elements based on temperature feedback to ensure the mold temperature remains within the specified range.
The advantages of using a mold temperature controller include:
- High Quality: Maintaining desired mold temperatures helps producing molded parts of high quality via uniform heat distribution.
- Reducing Cycle Time: Precised temperature controlling reduces overall cycle time for each molded part.
- Minimizing Distortion and Losses: Accurate temperature control minimizes thermal stresses and distortions in molded product. Through homogeneous heat distribution, raw material loss reduced and burr formation prevented.
- Energy Efficiency: By effectively managing heating and cooling processes, mold temperature controllers contribute to energy savings. Mold temperature controllers are essential tools in various manufacturing sectors, such as; automotive & electronic plastic parts’ injection molding processes, where precision and stability are of high importance.
THERMOREGULATOR TYPES
Mold temperature controllers are of various types, each designed to meet specific requirements and applications in different manufacturing processes. Here are some common types, noted as below:
Water Based Mold Temperature Controllers:
- Water used as heat transfer fluid.
- Effectively applied where water is available and suitable for heat transfer.
- Generally more economical than oil-based controllers.
Oil Based Mold Temperature Controllers:
- Oil (usually thermal oil) applied as the heat transfer fluid.
- Provides higher temperature ranges compared to water control devices.
- Effective for high temperature molding processes.
- Offers more stable temperature control.
The selection of a mold temperature controller type depends on specific manufacturing process, the material being molded, required temperature range, and other specific factors to be applied. Manufacturers often offer a range of options to suit various industry requirements. They are mainly used in various molding methods, such as; plastic injection, casting industry, rubber molding, extrusion & metal injection molding.