Adaptive GPC control of melt temperature in injection moulding

The melt temperature is a critical process variable affecting directly the final quality of the moulded parts. The control of this variable is difficu lt as the dynamics of the resin melting process are known to be nonlinear a nd varying in relation to the barrel heating power. In this paper, we prese nt the development of an adaptive generalised predictive controller (GPC) w hich is suitable for the control of the melt temperature. Unlike previously reported controllers, this controller remains highly effective under a wid e range of processing conditions which will excite the nonlinear modes of t he process. Simulation examples are provided to highlight the effectiveness of the control system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.