Efficient warpage optimization of thin shell plastic parts using response surface methodology and genetic algorithm

During the production of thin shell plastic parts by injection molding, warpage depending on the process conditions is often encountered. In this study, efficient minimization of warpage on thin shell plastic parts by integrating finite element (FE) analysis, statistical design of experiment method, response surface methodology (RSM), and genetic algorithm (GA) is investigated. A bus ceiling lamp base is considered as a thin shell plastic part example. To achieve the minimum warpage, optimum process condition parameters are determined. Mold temperature, melt temperature, packing pressure, packing time, and cooling time are considered as process condition parameters. FE analyses are conducted for a combination of process parameters organized using statistical three-level full factorial experimental design. The most important process parameters influencing warpage are determined using FE analysis results based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. A predictive response surface model for warpage data is created using RSM. The response surface (RS) model is interfaced with an effective GA to find the optimum process parameter values.