New Virtual Environment for Active Learning on Parameter Adjustment of Plastic Injection Molding

This paper describes some aspects of new software development and its academic application. This program is an alternative to enhance and to improve the available resources for students to acquire practical knowledge in plastic injection molding parameterization. A virtual injection molding environment has been developed, which allows preliminary machine capacity determination, number of cavities analysis, injection cycle parameter definition, and defects analysis and representation. The environment allows the student to carry out an iteration process in order to optimize the injection molding process parameters. All decision making is based on an Expert System which response is similar to a skilled machine operator.