Influence of induction heating of injection molds on reliability of electrical connectors

• Published in: Eksploatacja i niezawodność Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 676 - 683
• Main Authors: Mrozek, Krzysztof, Muszyński, Paweł, Poszwa, Przemysław
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2020
• ISSN: 1507-2711; 2956-3860
• DOI: 10.17531/ein.2020.4.11

Continuous increase in demand for electricity causes that electrotechnical industry is relentlessly under pressure of technological development. It is necessary to reduce costs while increasing a reliability of manufactured products. Common miniaturization of products mounted in land vehicles, vessels and airplanes along with limitation of their weight requires the use of innovative production methods. This publication presents the problem of exploitation related with reliable assembly and disassembly of rail-mounted electrical connectors. In order to improve the reliability of injected electrical connector housings, the authors proposed the selective induction heating technology as a heating method of injection mould. To reveal the origin of the problem, in case of this work, the simulation studies of filling the mould cavity were carried out. They show an incorrect localization of polymer streams weld line. Then the results of the simulation and induction heating experiment are presented. They were necessary for the proper design and make of the injection mould. In the final stage, the experimental tests of the manufactured housings assembly and disassembly were performed in conditions corresponding to the actual conditions. The obtained results show, that selective induction heating technology has significantly improved the reliability of rail-mounted electrical connector housings.