Bachelor’s thesis or master’s thesis
© IKVTopic of the work:
The cavities of injection molds can be machined using a wide variety of manufacturing processes. In addition to conventional machining processes, which produce periodic surface structures in the tool steel, ablative processes can also be used. This includes die-sinking, which uses spark erosion to create aperiodic structures that are recognizable as crater-shaped surfaces. Different surface topographies can affect the flow behavior of the molten plastic within the mould because air pockets form between the molten plastic and the cavity surface, which affect heat transfer. However, the impact on the demolding of the components is still unknown. Therefore, the demolding behavior of tool inserts with different structures will be analyzed.
The work is written in this working group:
Your thesis will be written in the Tooling Engineering working group of the Injection Molding Department. As part of this, you will conduct experiments to investigate the influence of tool design on process behavior, with a focus on the cavity area that shapes the part.
Scope of your thesis:
The goal of your work is to analyze the influence of the surface structures of mold cavities on the ejection forces in the injection molding process.
Your task:
| For a Bachelor's thesis, you will work on the following tasks | For a Master's thesis, you will work on the following tasks |
| Literature Review on the Influence of Surface Roughness on the Demolding Process of Injection-Molded Parts | Literature Review on the Influence of Surface Roughness on the Demolding Process of Injection-Molded Parts |
| Selecting a suitable molded part and integrating force measurement sensors | Selecting a suitable molded part and integrating force measurement sensors |
| Injection Molding Tests with Differently Structured Mold Inserts | Injection Molding Tests with Differently Structured Mold Inserts and Various Mold Compounds |
| Analysis of Ejection Force Measurements | Analysis of Ejection Force Measurements |
| Analysis of the Surface Roughness of Molded Parts in the Microscopy Laboratory | Analysis of the Surface Roughness of Molded Parts in the Microscopy Laboratory |
| Investigation of the flow behavior of the molding compounds in the selected Mould by evaluating achievable flow path lengths |
Your profile:
- A degree in engineering or the natural sciences (mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, materials science, applied polymer science…)
- Initial experience in plastics processing and ideally in injection molding
- Interest in practical work on injection molding machines and microscopy
- Independent, structured and autonomous work
These are your benefits:
- Independent work with intensive support
- Individual coordination of tasks and time frame
- Co-design of current research projects
- Experimental work on industrial plants
- Immediate start possible
If the task appeals to you and you would like to start your thesis at IKV, you are welcome to contact me by phone, e-mail or in person at the institute. We will then tailor the schedule and the exact scope of your work to your individual preferences.