Application of additive technologies in manufacture of injection molds for thermoplastics

Diplomska naloga predstavlja primer reševanja problema temperiranja kritičnega mesta v orodju za brizganje termoplastov s pomočjo dodajalne tehnologije selektivnega laserskega taljenja (Selectiv Laser Melting – SLM). Predstavili smo teoretične pogoje za optimalno temperiranje orodij in s tem kakovosten izdelek iz termoplasta. Prikazali smo možne praktične klasične rešitve temperiranja osnovnih oblik in podali smernice za izvedbo temperirnih tokokrogov. Ker so zaradi kompleksnosti izdelka klasične metode odpovedale, smo rešitev našli v konformnem temperiranju, ki ga je možno izvesti samo s SLM postopkom. Opisali smo potek izdelave oblikovnega jedra s kritičnim področjem, kjer smo v začetku uporabili klasične tehnologije in jih kasneje nadgradili s SLM tehnologijo. Da bi upravičili uporabo konformnega temperiranja in SLM postopka, smo izvedli simulacijsko analizo z orodjem Mold Flow analizo in primerjali rezultate klasično in konformno temperiranega oblikovnega jedra. Vsi pomembni rezultati so bili na strani konformnega temperiranja in kažejo na smotrnost uporabe SLM postopka. Slaba stran SLM postopka ostaja visoka cena naprav.The diploma thesis is an example of solving the problem of tempering the critical place in the tool for injection molding of thermoplastics with the help of selective laser melting (Selectiv Laser Melting - SLM). We presented the theoretical conditions for optimal tool tempering and thus a quality thermoplastic product. We have presented possible practical classical solutions for tempering basic forms and given guidelines for the implementation of tempering circuits. Because of the complexity of the product, the classical methods failed, we found the solution in conformal tempering, which can only be performed with the SLM procedure. We described the process of manufacturing a design core with a critical area, where we initially used classical technologies and later upgraded them with SLM technology. To justify the use of conformal tempering and the SLM procedure, we performed a simulation analysis with the Mold Flow analysis tool and compared the results of the classical and conformally tempered design core. All important results were on the side of conformal tempering and indicate the feasibility of using the SLM procedure. The disadvantage of the SLM process remains the high cost of the devices