The Study on the Optimization of Injection Molding Process Parameters with Gray Relational Analysis

Abstract

This paper studies the optimization of injection molding process parameters by using the gray relational analysis method. Nine experimental runs based on Taguchi method’s orthogonal arrays are studied to pick the best factor level condition. The mechanical properties of yield stress and elongation are selected to be the target of quality. The factor levels are assessed according to the chosen two mechanical properties. The degree of influence that the controllable process factors exert on the mechanical properties is studied by investigating the correlation between them. From the analysis of gray relational grade matrix, the most influential process factor and the most easily influenced mechanical property can be picked. It is found that the melt temperature is the most influential factor to mechanical properties of both yield stress and elongation. The yield stress is more easily influenced by those factors than the elongation is. The sequence of the importance that the controllable factors affect the yield stress is slightly different from it for the elongation, but the melt temperature is still the most important factor.