APSX APSX-PIM User manual

APSX-PIM USER MANUAL
Full-Automatic Electric Desktop Plastic Injection Machine
APSX-PIM
User Manual V1.5

A D V A N C E D P R O D U C T I O N S Y S T E M S
APSX, LLC.
APSX, LLC.
11144 Luschek Dr
Blue Ash, OH 45241
www.apsx.com • [e-mail]

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This equipment manual is intended to provide information for safe operation and maintenance. APSX
reserves the right to make changes to equipment in an effort to continually improve the equipment,
features, and/or performance. These changes may result in different and/or additional safety measures
that are communicated to customers through bulletins as changes occur.
This document contains information which is the exclusive property of APSX LLC. Except for any rights
expressly granted by contract, no further publication or commercial use may be made of this document,
in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of APSX LLC.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, APSX LLC grants permission to its customers to reproduce this
document for limited internal use only.
Copyright © 2017, APSX LLC.
All Rights Reserved.

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General Information
Phone Support Number: 1-513-716-5992 (9AM-5PM EST Weekdays)
For non-emergency questions you may also email to [email protected]
Please refer to www.apsx.com for the office locations.
Product Upgrades
Upgrades may be available that can improve your equipment. To see what upgrades are available for your
machine please visit www.apsx.com or call support number.
Spare Parts
All spare parts for APSX-PIM can be ordered online at www.apsx.com.
Unauthorized Modifications
Under no circumstances should any changes or modifications be made to the electrical circuits,
mechanical structures, or the safety devices to the machine and guarding on the mold without the prior,
written permission of APSX LLC.

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Table of Contents
Injection Molding Process ........................................................1
Processing Characteristics.......................................................1
Example for Polypropylene.............................................................1
Some Terms for Injection Molding............................................2
Safety Precautions...................................................................8
Thermal effects:..............................................................................8
Off-Gases Ventilation:.....................................................................8
Slipping Hazards:............................................................................8
Physical Hazards: ...........................................................................9
Electrical Hazards:..........................................................................9
Other Safeguards:...........................................................................9
APSX-PIM Injection Molding Machine....................................11
Plasticizing Section.......................................................................12
Pre-Plasticizing Section ................................................................12
Injection Section............................................................................12
Injection Valve Section..................................................................12
Clamping Section..........................................................................12
User Interface Section...................................................................12
Moving the APSX-PIM to Another Location............................ 13
APSX-PIM Injection Molding Process..................................... 14
Preparing the Machine..................................................................14
Powering the Machine...................................................................14
System ON....................................................................................14
Installing the Mold.........................................................................14
APSX-PIM MAGNETS, SWITCHES AND SENSORS: .................22
APSX-PIM CYCLE:.......................................................................23
Settings.........................................................................................24
APSX-PIM User Screen................................................................24
Filling the Hopper..........................................................................30
Start the Heat................................................................................30
Manually Controlling......................................................................30
Purging..........................................................................................30
Start RUN......................................................................................31
Stopping the Machine ...................................................................31
Cleaning the Machine ...................................................................31
Troubleshooting Guide........................................................... 32
Machine Specs.......................................................................34

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KEY FEATURES OF APSX-PIM...................................................34
TECHNICAL OVERVIEW .............................................................34
DESIGN ELEMENTS....................................................................35
SUPPORT.............................................................................. 37
SPARE PARTS.............................................................................37
LIMITED WARRANTY ..................................................................37
TRANSFERABILITY .....................................................................38
TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES................................................ 39
Kill-A-Watt.....................................................................................39
15/16” Wrench ..............................................................................39
7/16”, ½”, ¾” Wrenches ................................................................40
3/16”, ¼” and M4 Hex Keys ..........................................................40

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C H A P T E R : P R O C E S S I N G C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
1
Injection Molding Process
It is a science but is also kind of art.
he injection molding of thermoplastic resins is a well-known and widely
practiced application. It constitutes a major processing technique for
converting plastics into a variety of end-use products. Basically, the process
involves heating the solid pellets to melt, then transferring it to a mold and
holding it under pressure until it freezes, or solidifies.
Plastic molding compounds represent a range of chemical types. Each type has its own
specific processing characteristics which must be considered and understood before it
can be successfully molded.
Processing Characteristics
The physical and chemical properties of a plastic dictate the way in which it must be
molded. Among these are:
Melting or softening temperature
Energy content (specific heat and latent heat)
Melt viscosity
Stability and behavior at melt temperatures
Freezing rate, crystallization rate, and cycle time
Shrinkage
Example for Polypropylene
For example the PP which is a frequently used plastic has physical,
mechanical, impact and thermal properties listed. Specific gravity,
mass flow rate, tensile strength, izod impact and deflection
temperature under load are some of the properties that make a
difference when processing for injection molding.
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C H A P T E R : S O M E T E R M S F O R I N J E C T I O N M O L D I N G
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Some Terms for Injection Molding
Alloy: A term used in the plastics industry to denote blends of polymers or copolymers
with other polymers or elastomers. - i.e. ABS/Polycarbonate.
Ambient Temperature: The temperature of a medium surrounding an object. The term
is often used to denote prevailing room temperature.
ANSI: Abbreviation for American National Standards Institute.
ASTM: Abbreviation for American Society for Testing and Materials.
Back Pressure: The resistance of the molten plastic material to forward flow. In
molding, back pressure increases the temperature of the melt, and contributes to better
mixing of colors and homogeneity of the material. However, as back pressure
increases, so does cycle time.
Barrel: The section of a molding machine that contains the feed screw, also the section
where resin heating and mixing occurs.
Blushing: The tendency of a plastic article to turn white or chalky in areas that are
highly stressed.
Bubbles: Air or gas pockets that have formed in the material of the component.
Bubbles may vary in size.
Burned: Showing evidence of excessive heating during processing or use of a plastic, as
evidenced by blistering, discoloration, distortion or destruction of the surface.
Cavity: A depression, or a set of matching depressions, in a plastics-forming mold
which forms the outer surfaces of the molded articles.
Charge: The amount of material used to load a mold at one time or during one cycle.
Clamp: The part of an injection molding machine incorporating the platens that
provides the force necessary to hold the mold closed during injection of the molten
resin and open the mold to eject the molded part.
Clamping Area: The largest rated molding area an injection press can hold closed under
full molding pressure.
Clamping Force: The force applied to the mold to keep it closed, in opposition to the
fluid pressure of the compressed molding material within the mold cavity and the
runner system.
Clamping Plate: A plate fitted to a mold and used to fasten the mold to a platen.

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Clamping Pressure: The pressure applied to the mold to keep it closed during the
molding cycle.
Closed-loop Control: System for monitoring and automatically adjusting injection
molding process conditions such as temperature, pressure and time. The automatic
changes keep part production within preset tolerances.
Cold Flow Lines: Imperfections within the part wall due to thickening or solidification
of resin prior to full cavity fill.
Compression Molding: A method of molding in which the molding material, generally
preheated, is placed in an open heated mold cavity, the mold is closed with a top force,
pressure is applied to force the material into contact with all mold areas.
Conversions (Commonly Used in Injection Molding)
MPa x 145 = psi
°C x 1.8 + 32 = °F
Liters/min x 0.2642 = Gal/min
Inches x 25.4 = mm
Flow rate = ((# of cavities) x (volume per cavity))/(injection time)
Cooling Channels: Channels located within the body of a mold through which a
cooling medium is circulated to control the mold surface temperature.
Cooling time: the elapsed time required for the melt to reach its Vicat softening
temperature.
Core: A protrusion, or set of matching protrusions, in a plastics forming mold which
forms the inner surfaces of the molded articles.
Creep: Due to its viscoelastic nature, a plastic subjected to a load for a period of time
tends to deform more than it would from the same load released immediately after
application, and the degree of this deformation is dependent of the load duration.
CSA: Abbreviation for the Canadian Standards Association.
Cure Cycle: The time periods at defined conditions to which a reacting thermosetting
material is processed to reach a desired property level.
Cure: The process of changing properties of polymer into a more stable and usable
condition. This is accomplished by the use of heat, radiation, or reaction with chemical
additives.

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Custom Molder: A firm specializing in the molding of items or components to the
specifications of another firm which handles the sale of distribution of the item, or
incorporates the custom molded components in one of its own products.
Cycle Time: The time required by an injection molding system to mold a part and
return to its original position/state.
Cycle: complete, repeating sequence of operations for injection molding a part.
Deflection Temperature: The measurement of temperature at which a specimen
deflects to a set point under a defined load.
Degassing: The momentary opening and closing of a mold during the early stages of
the cycle to permit the escape of air or gas from the heated compound.
Differential Cooling: occurs when one area of the part cools at a different rate or when
the mold surfaces are at different temperatures. Warping can result from differential
cooling.
Draft: A Slight taper in a mold wall designed to facilitate removal of the molded object
from the mold.
Drag Marks: A form of deep scratch or scratches on the surface of the component
usually caused by the ejection of the part.
Drooling: The extrudation or leakage of molten resin from nozzle or nozzle sprue
bushing area while filling or shooting the mold.
Dwell: A pause in the applied pressure to a mold during the injection cycle just before
the mold is completely closed. This dwell allows any gases formed or present to escape
from the molding material.
Ejection Pin Marks: A residual mark on the part caused by the profile of the ejection
pin.
Ejection Pin: A rod, pin or sleeve that pushes a molded part off of a core or out of a
cavity of a mold.
Ejector Rod: A bar that actuates the ejector assembly when the mold opens.
Family mold: A mold that produces non-identical parts simultaneously from multiple
cavities.
Fill pressure: the pressure required to fill the cavity.
Fill Time (also known as Injection): Time required to fill the cavity or mold.