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Three-dimensional-printed molds and materials for injection molding and rapid tooling applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2019

John Ryan C. Dizon Open the ORCID record for John Ryan C. Dizon [Opens in a new window] ,
Arnaldo D. Valino ,
Lucio R. Souza ,
Alejandro H. Espera Jr. ,
Qiyi Chen  and
Rigoberto C. Advincula
John Ryan C. Dizon
Affiliation:
Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH44106, USA Additive Manufacturing Research Laboratory, Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture, Bataan Peninsula State University, City of Balanga, Bataan2100, Philippines
Arnaldo D. Valino
Affiliation:
Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH44106, USA Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Adamson University, Manila City, Metro Manila 1000, Philippines
Lucio R. Souza
Affiliation:
Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH44106, USA
Alejandro H. Espera Jr.
Affiliation:
Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH44106, USA Electronics Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Architecture, Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City8016, Philippines Department of Engineering Education, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA24016, USA
Qiyi Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH44106, USA
Rigoberto C. Advincula*
Affiliation:
Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH44106, USA
*
Address all correspondence to Rigoberto C. Advincula at rca41@case.edu
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Abstract

This Prospective covers an overview of the injection molding process and the importance of mold design and tooling considerations, important material requirements and thermal properties for molds, polymer material requirements for injection molding, mold flow analysis, and the promise of using the 3D printing process for mold fabrication. The second part demonstrates the injection molding process using 3D-printed polymer molds and its suitability for low-run productions. 3D-printed molds using stereolithography and fused filament fabrication have been injected with polylactic acid, and the quality of the injected parts was assessed in terms of dimensional accuracy and the damage mechanisms during fabrication.

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Prospective Articles
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MRS Communications , Volume 9 , Issue 4 , December 2019 , pp. 1267 - 1283
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Copyright © Materials Research Society 2019

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