A SELF-TUNING ULTRASONIC SENSOR-BASED POWDER INJECTION-MOLDING PROCESS

Ultrasonic sensors show great promise in defect detection and classifi cation when monitoring the powder injection molding (PIM) manufacturin g process. To date, however, these sensors are not used in a closed-lo op control system. A simplex method is developed that automatically tu nes a manufacturing system operating conditions on the basis of in sit u ultrasonic sensor readings. Potential applications for this system i nclude the initial set-up of optimal manufacturing conditions and also tracking of the optimum conditions in situ during long-term operation . (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.