• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.505-511
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• 2016

The aim of this study is to investigate the thermoforming characteristics of an inner case with three refrigerator cavities using three-dimensional(3D) thermoforming analyses. We perform fundamental formability analyses using a 3D model of the mould for the inner case. We carry out tensile tests at the elevated temperature to examine the properties and characteristics of the thermoformed material. Then, we design sub-processes of the thermoforming process for the inner case. In addition, we develop suitable finite-element models for different sub-processes. We investigate the deformed shapes and thickness distributions of the inner case for different sub-processes using the results of the thermoforming analysis. Finally, we discuss the formability and thermoforming characteristics of the inner case with three cavities.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.953-960
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• 2015

The thermoforming process has been widely used to manufacture medium- and large-sized plastic parts because of the relatively low cost and high productivity, as compared with other plastic forming processes. One of current salient issues of thermoforming industries is the reduction of trial and error during the production of the thermoformed product. Hence, there is a significant increasing interest in the thermoforming analysis by the thermoforming industries. The goal of this paper is to investigate a methodology of the three-dimensional thermoforming analysis for medium- and large-sized plastic parts. There is a discussion about methodologies of thermoforming analysis, as well as material modeling, and three-dimensional finite element analysis. Furthermore, there is an examination, through case studies, about the applicability of the proposed methodology concerning the thermoforming analysis.

• 한국금형공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.69-73
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• 2008

본 연구에서는 고분자 플라스틱 부품의 친환경 외장성형공법인 Insert Film 사출성형공법중 첫 번째 공정인 진공성형공정에서 진공금형의 표면온도 균일화 기술에 대해 연구를 수행하였다. 진공금형의 온도분포 균일화를 위한 금형설계 및 설계된 금형에 대한 온도분포 평가를 위한 ANSYS를 이용한 유한요소열해석을 수행하였으며, 이때 정상상태 및 과도상태를 함께 평가하였다. 설계 결과를 바탕으로 금형을 제작하였으며, 생산성을 고려하여 4캐비티로 제작된 금형에 대해 금형표면의 온도분포 평가실험을 수행하였다. 또한 금형내 캐비티 온도센서 및 제어시스템을 설치하여 진공금형표면 온도분포가 항상 일정하게 유지될 수 있도록 금형시스템을 개발하였다. 결과적으로 일정한 온도범위의 금형표면온도제어가 가능하였다.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.771-777
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• 2014

Injection-compression molding was used for film insert molding of an automotive door grip using films with three-dimensional embossed patterns. A vacuum mold was fabricated for vacuum-assisted thermoforming of the film, and an injection-compression mold was developed for film insert molding. Three pressure transducers were installed inside the mold cavity to measure cavity pressures. Injection-compression molding experiments under various compression strokes and toggle speeds were performed to investigate their effects on the cavity pressure and heights of the embossed patterns. The compression stroke of 0.9mm and low toggle speed resulted in a higher degree of conservation of embossed patterns. Additionally, the processing conditions for the maximum heights of embossed patterns were almost similar to those for minimum integral value of cavity pressures. The injection-compression molding process presents the opportunity to impart a soft-touch feeling of plastic parts printed with embossed patterns.