Week 17 Applications and Implications - Project Development
What will it do?
It will inject molten plastic into molds to create solid parts, mainly prototypes or small to medium-sized components.
Who has done what beforehand?
Similar projects such as Precious Plastic's injection machine and many DIY versions have been documented on YouTube and maker forums. Both manual and automatic injectors have also been documented in educational and prototyping contexts.
What will you design?
I will design the frame of the injector, the heating system, the syringe-like injection mechanism, the temperature and pressure control system, and a basic user interface. Everything will be integrated into a safe metal structure.
What materials and components will be used and how much will they cost?
Where will they come from?
Electronic components from stores like Steren, AliExpress, or MercadoLibre. Metal and pneumatic components from local hardware stores or provided by my university.
What parts and systems will be made?
Injection system (cylinder + piston), heating and temperature control system, structural chassis with insulation, control panel (screen, buttons, etc.).
What processes will be used?
Cutting and welding metals, mechanical and electronic assembly, microcontroller programming, temperature and pressure calibration, user interface design.
What questions need to be answered?
- What type of plastic can be safely melted?
- What is the minimum pressure required to inject parts without failure?
- How to prevent plastic leakage or overheating?
- What nozzle diameter is optimal for different molds?
How will it be evaluated?
By successful injection without clogging, precise temperature control, system safety, quality of molded parts, and a functional user interface.
What tasks have been completed?
Research and reference gathering, injection system selection, PID and heater tests, initial structure design.
What tasks remain?
Injection testing, mold design and validation, project documentation.
What has worked?
All systems (pneumatic, heating, and control) are working properly.
What hasn’t?
The structure is misaligned and unstable, and I have not yet been able to inject plastic.
What questions need to be resolved?
- How to better control piston force (manual vs pneumatic)?
- What safety measures can be implemented against overheating?
What will happen when?
- Week 1: Mechanical assembly
- Week 2: Electronic integration
- Week 3: Functional tests and adjustments
- Week 4: Documentation and final presentation
What have you learned?
- The importance of precise temperature control
- That a modular design facilitates system improvement or repair
- That injection pressure highly depends on the type of plastic
- That integrating electronics requires real-world testing