Abstract: In a method for controlling or regulating a closing mechanism of a moulding machine, a first trajectory for the controlled or regulated movement of the movable platen is calculated using a first algorithm based on operator inputs relating to the desired movement of the movable platen, and the movable platen is moved in a controlled or regulated manner at least once according to the first trajectory. At least one dynamic or kinematic variable of the closing mechanism is measured during at least one of the movements of the movable platen according to the first trajectory, and an estimate of at least one parameter value is generated based on the measurement. A second trajectory for the controlled or regulated movement of the movable platen is calculated based on the estimate, and the movable platen is moved in a controlled or regulated manner according to the second trajectory.

Abstract: A method involves heating fiber-reinforced semi-finished products of differing wall thickness to a required temperature above the glass transition range or the matrix melting temperature of a plastic matrix of the semi-finished product to be heated. In a first step, the semi-finished product to be heated is heated by thermal conduction to below the glass transition range or the matrix melting temperature. In a further step, the remaining amount of heat for reaching the required temperature above the glass transition range or the matrix melting temperature is introduced by thermal radiation or thermal convection.

Abstract: A plasticizing device includes a plasticizing cylinder and a plasticizing screw arranged in the plasticizing cylinder. The plasticizing screw is rotatable about, and linearly movable along, a longitudinal axis. The plasticizing screw comprises a functioning section. A sensor is arranged in or on the plasticizing cylinder, and a distance to the surface of the functioning section of the plasticizing screw can be measured by the sensor. A detecting device can detect a type of the functioning section and/or an operating state of the functioning section, can detect a distance signal progression by a movement of the functioning section relative to the sensor, can compare the detected distance signal progression with a stored distance signal progression, and can issue a signal representing the type of functioning section and/or the operating state of the functioning section depending on a matching of the detected distance signal progression with a stored distance signal progression.

Abstract: A clamping unit for a moulding machine, including a toggle mechanism. A movable moulding platen is movable with respect to a stationary moulding platen and/or can be acted on by a force of the toggle mechanism. The toggle mechanism is drivable by at least two drive units, and the at least two drive units are each connected in an articulated manner to at least one movably mounted toggle lever element of the toggle mechanism via at least one bearing point formed as an articulation.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for a cyclically operating shaping machine includes at least one hydraulic drive unit for cyclically driving a component of the shaping machine at a start time; at least one pump; and at least one hydraulic accumulator which can be discharged for driving the at least one hydraulic drive unit and which can be charged up by operation of the at least one pump. An open-loop or closed-loop control unit is also provided for control of the at least one pump. The open-loop or closed-loop control unit is adapted to operate the at least one pump continuously until the start time of the at least one hydraulic drive unit to charge up the at least one hydraulic accumulator until the start time of the hydraulic drive unit.

Abstract: A temperature control apparatus includes a temperature control branch connected to a feed line for a temperature control medium, a pump system including a pump for conveying the medium, a pump open-loop or closed-loop control device for controlling the output of the pump system, a throttle device having a variable degree of opening for throttling a quantitative through-flow of the medium in the temperature control branch, and an open-loop or closed-loop control device with the degree of opening of the throttle device as a setting value and with a control variable from the group: degree of opening of the throttle device, temperature, temperature difference, through-flow, pressure or a physical value to be derived from that group. The pump open-loop or closed-loop control device is configured to control an operation of the pump to adjust the delivery output of the pump system depending on the degree of opening of the throttle device.

Abstract: A method of influencing a backpressure length and/or a screw return speed in an axially extending plasticizing cylinder of a plasticizing unit for an injection moulding machine including a plasticizing screw arranged displaceably and rotatably in a cylinder bore of the plasticizing cylinder. Metering of plastic granulate fed to the plasticizing unit is carried out in dependence on the desired backpressure length in the plasticizing unit, and the plasticizing unit is operated in underfed mode.

Abstract: A shaping machine includes a melting vessel, an induction coil arranged on the melting vessel for inductively heating, in particular melting, a material, and a shaping cavity. The melting vessel has at least one irradiation region which is substantially permeable for an electromagnetic field, and the shaping machine is adapted to cool the material in the cavity in such a way that a substantially crystalline solid body is formed. A body with a higher magnetic permeability than the melting vessel is arranged overlapping the irradiation region, and the induction coil is arranged between the body and the irradiation region.

Abstract: A method of determining a target value of a state variable includes preparing a mixture of the molding material and the gas with different test values of the state variable, and the mixture is respectively compressed or decompressed. In the compression or decompression step, the state variable of the mixture and/or a further state variable of the mixture is measured directly or indirectly, and determination values of a compression behavior variable characteristic of the compression behavior of the mixture are determined from the measurement values. A criterion directed to a solution state of the gas is checked, and a lowest or highest value of the state variable is deduced at which the gas is in solution in the molding material. The lowest or highest value of the state variable at which the gas is in solution in the molding material is used as the target value.

Abstract: A method of determining a solution state of a gas in a plastic melt used in a plastic shaping method includes: (vi) providing the plastic melt together with the gas in a chamber, (vii) altering—in particular reducing—a volume of the chamber to alter a pressure of the plastic melt together with the gas—in particular increased from a first pressure value to a second pressure value, (viii) introducing the plastic melt into a shaping cavity, (ix) computing at least one compression parameter characteristic of the compression behaviour of the plastic melt, in particular a modulus of compression, from the first pressure value and the second pressure value, and (x) determining from the at least one compression parameter whether the gas is substantially completely dissolved in the plastic melt and/or a solubility limit of the gas in the plastic melt is determined from the at least one compression parameter.

Abstract: A method of finding a target conveying capacity of a pumping includes a temperature-control flow through a temperature-control channel carried out according to a control variable by using a throttle as an actuating element such that a temperature-control volume flow remains substantially constant. A conveying flow of the pumping system is measured, and a pump starting from a starting conveying capacity independent of the control of the temperature-control volume flow is driven such that a conveying capacity of the pumping system is reduced to a reduced conveying capacity. Then, a check is made to find whether the conveying flow remains substantially constant and, if this is the case, the reduced conveying capacity is determined to be the target conveying capacity. If this is not the case despite the control of the temperature-control volume flow, the starting conveying capacity is determined to be the target conveying capacity.

Abstract: A mixing device for producing a plastic melt loaded with propellant, from which a foamed plastic part is producible in a molding machine, includes a mixing chamber, at least one propellant inlet device for feeding propellant into the mixing chamber, an inlet channel for plastic melt, and an output channel for dispensing plastic melt loaded with propellant. A first gas-tight shutoff device is provided for closing the inlet channel, and a second gas-tight shutoff device is provided for closing the output channel.

Abstract: A method of arranging, in particular thermoplastic, semi-finished products by using an electronically controlled or regulated placing device for the semi-finished products. The method includes detecting at least one part of an outline of a semi-finished product to be placed, wherein the detecting is carried out by a detection device, determining a target position for the semi-finished product and/or for the placing device for placing the semi-finished product by matching the at least one part of the outline with a placing edge occurring on an underlying surface, and placing the semi-finished product by the placing device using the target position.

Abstract: An injection unit for a shaping machine includes an injection piston arranged displaceably in an injection cylinder and at least two drive units for displacement of the injection piston. Each of the at least two drive units is lubricated by an oil chamber which is oil-tightly sealed off in relation to the surroundings, and each oil chamber holds an oil volume, above which is arranged an air volume. The air volumes of the oil chambers are connected together in air-conducting relationship by a connecting conduit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a molded part includes inserting melt into a cavity of a first tool part, and the first tool part and a second tool part are moved away from one another during or after the insertion of the melt by moving a second mold clamping plate relative to a first mold clamping plate such that in the first tool part or in the second tool part clearance space of a first or second cavity portion of the cavity is created, and a gap is formed between the first tool part and the second tool part. Melt is further inserted into the clearance space of the cavity, and the gap is bridged by an at least already partially solidified section of the melt. A holding force is transmitted from the second tool part to the first tool part through the partially solidified section of the melt bridging the gap.

Abstract: A method for evaluating and/or visualizing a process state of a production system, which contains at least one cyclically operating shaping machine, includes: continuously or at discrete times, determining the value of a plurality of selected process variables, and comparing the current value of each selected process variable and or a variable derived therefrom with one or more reference values by means a computing unit, and determining a deviation or a rate of change. Each selected process variable is assigned to at least one logical group by the computing unit; at least two different logical groups are provided; and for each logical group, a state of the logical group is evaluated by the computing unit based on the process variables assigned to the logical group and/or is visualized by a display device.

Abstract: A method for moving a movable mold mounting plate of a molding machine, wherein the movable mold mounting plate is movable relative to a stationary mold mounting plate and the mold mounting plates are kinematically connected to each other, wherein molding tool parts arranged on the mold mounting plates are brought into abutment to each other in a closed state and wherein the movable mold mounting plate is moved by a drive mechanism and/or the stationary mold mounting plate is moved by an injection device such that, when reaching a predeterminable distance of the mold mounting plates relative to each other, a parameter representing a tilting movement of the mold mounting plates relative to each other is less than or equal to a presettable value.

Abstract: An injection unit for a shaping machine includes a plasticizing cylinder which has a collar and a carrier portion which has a trough. The plasticizing cylinder is arranged in the trough, and an axial movement of the plasticizing cylinder relative to the carrier portion is restrained in positively locking engagement by the collar bearing against the carrier portion. A clamping element which is fixed or shaped on the plasticizing cylinder is fixed by fixing elements to the carrier portion in such a way that the plasticizing cylinder is braced between the trough and the clamping element. The plasticizing cylinder is braced by bracing elements against lifting of the collar off the carrier portion in an axial direction of the plasticizing cylinder.

Abstract: A target value progression for a process parameter functioning as a setting variable is established so that an actual value progression for a selected variable has a desired property, or the desired actual value progression itself ensues. The actual value progression occurring in relation to the first configuration is predetermined as a reference value progression for the selected variable, and a target value progression for the process parameter functioning as the setting variable is established by a computer so that the reference value progression as the actual value progression with the desired property or the desired actual value progression itself ensues when the shaping machine in the second configuration operates in a production cycle in accordance with the selected target value progression for the at least one process parameter functioning as the setting variable.

Abstract: A shaping machine includes a stationary first mold mounting plate, a second mold mounting plate movable with respect to the first mold mounting plate, a tubular snorkel fixedly secured to the second mold mounting plate, and an injection unit for plasticizing and injecting a molding material. An abutment is designed so that, in the opened condition of the closing unit, the injection unit can be braced against the abutment, and so that, in a closed condition of the closing unit, the injection unit is freed from the abutment by the force action of the snorkel on the injection unit.