SST/Collaborative Research: Self-Powered Wireless Sensor Array for Pressure, Volume, and Temperature Monitoring of Injection Molding

这个小型传感器团队(SST)/协作研究项目的目标是通过提供模腔内多个位置的压力、温度、流速和其他工艺状态的反馈，以实现实时工艺和质量控制，从而显著提高聚合物加工操作的可观测性。这一目标将通过同时进行模内压力-温度传感、多领域信号处理和注塑过程分析来实现。这项研究的好处是它将引入新一代微型传感器，这些传感器可以放置在模具型腔内以前不可能放置的几乎任何地方，并且比以前需要修改模具以放置传统传感器的时间要短得多。这项研究的更广泛的影响有三个方面：1)它代表着从目前使用了几十年的有线传感器向前迈出的根本一步，有可能显著提高成型生产率，其中每提高一个百分点，每年就可以节省超过4,000万美元的成本；2)新的传感技术不仅适用于注塑成型，也适用于其他高能制造工艺；3)该研究将对研究生和本科生的多学科教育和培训做出重大贡献，并加强PIS机构的制造课程开发。

The objective of this Small Sensor Team (SST)/Collaborative Research project is to significantly improve the observability in polymer processing operations by providing feedback of pressure, temperature, flow rate, and other process states at multiple locations within the mold cavity, for real-time process and quality control. This objective will be achieved through simultaneous in-mold pressure-temperature sensing, multi-domain signal processing, and injection molding process analysis.The benefit of this research is that it will introduce a new generation of miniaturized sensors that can be placed at practically anywhere within the mold cavity that are previously not possible, and in much less time than previously required to modify a mold for placing a conventional sensor. The broader impact of this research is three-fold: 1) it represents a radical step forward from the current wired sensors that have been used for decades, and has the potential to significantly improve molding productivity wherein each percentage point improvement corresponds to cost savings over $40 million per year, 2) the new sensing technique will not only be applicable to injection molding, but also to other high-energy manufacturing processes, and 3) the research will contribute substantially to multidisciplinary education and training of graduate and undergraduate students and enhance manufacturing curriculum development at the PIs' institutions.