Evaluation of Heater Maintenance on Injection Molding Machine

Abstract

In the plastic manufacturing industry, the temperature stability of the injection molding machine has an important role in ensuring product quality and production process efficiency. Disturbances in the heater system and temperature instability often occur due to decreased component conditions, residue buildup, and suboptimal implementation of preventive maintenance. These conditions can cause the initial heating time to be longer and increase the potential for product defects. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of heater treatment in injection molding machines in improving temperature stability and initial heating performance. The research methods used include visual inspection, cleaning of heater bands and heater nozzles, tightening of electrical terminals, calibration of temperature sensors, and analysis of actual temperature comparisons before and after treatment. The results showed that before treatment, the actual temperature was in the range of 98–136°C and had not reached the specified set temperature. After treatment, the actual temperature increases and is stable in the range of 223–295°C according to the needs of the injection molding process. These results show that heater maintenance is able to improve temperature stability, improve initial heating performance, and support machine reliability during the production process. Thus, the regular application of heater maintenance can improve process efficiency and maintain product quality in injection molding machines.