OPTIMAL COOLING SYSTEM-DESIGN FOR MULTICAVITY INJECTION-MOLDING

The objective of this paper is to present a methodology for optimal de sign of cooling systems for multi-cavity injection mold tooling. After the part layout and the injection mold are designed, the methodology optimizes cooling system layout in terms of cooling channel size, loca tions, and coolant flow rate. The mold cooling design is modeled as a non-linear constrained optimization problem. The objective function fo r the constrained optimization problem is stated as minimization of bo th a function related to part average temperature and temperature grad ients throughout all the cavities. The constrained optimal design prob lem is solved using Powell's conjugate direction with the penalty func tion method. The objective function is evaluated using finite element analysis solving the transient heal conduction problem. A matrix-free Jacobi conjugate gradient algorithm of Galerkin finite element method is utilized to simulate transient heat conduction.