Abstract
The radiator grille has several air intakes. These holes cause the resin flows to divide and merge. As a result, weld lines occur. These weld lines and other problems appear in various forms depending on the grille pattern. To solve these problems, designers use injection molding analysis to proactively identify problems and determine optimal molding conditions. In this study, we conducted research on the effect and optimization of gates on injection molding of automobile radiator grille. The gates used in molding analysis are the side gate and the grape gate. We then compared the effects of each gate on weld line, injection pressure, clamping force, and deflection. As a result of the analysis applying the side gate, weld lines occurred in all major grilles. In contrast, in applying the grape gate, small weld lines occurred in the minor grille, but the weld line in the major grille could be prevented. The maximum injection pressure was reduced by 48.2% in applying the grape gate compared to applying the side gate. Additionally, the maximum clamping force was also reduced by 17.6%. To compare the amount of deformation, deflection values were measured at 20 identical locations. As a result, applying the grape gate showed a deformation improvement of at least 5.2% and up to 77.9%.