Attempts to fabricate micro injection molding tools and assemble molded micro parts on same EDM machine. Issue 1 (2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oshima, Kazuki; Kunieda, Masanori
• Is Part Of: CIRP annals. Volume 67:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 213
• Page End: 216
• Publication Date: 2018
• Subjects: Electrical discharge machining -- Assembly -- Micro injection molding; Production engineering -- Research -- Periodicals; 670.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cirp.2018.04.100
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-8506

Abstract

Abstract: An EDM method for manufacturing plastic micro gear pumps is proposed. Micro gates and cavities for mating gears are machined by EDM in both sides of a stainless steel foil, respectively. The foil is then transferred to an injection molding machine, and fixed to a mold to form mating gears by injection molding. The mating gears formed on the foils are then re-positioned on the EDM machine, released from the foil, and placed in a second foil pre-machined by EDM for the pump housing, using an ejector pin fabricated by reshaping the tool electrode used to machine the two foils.