Micro injection moulding (μIM) is the manufacturing technology for the large scale production of polymer based micro components. To enable the mass fabrication capability of micro injection moulding, a high accuracy process control is to be developed and implemented into the process. Process parameter levels have to be defined in order to optimize productivity, process repeatability and part quality. The process control system must ensure high accuracy and high sampling frequency. Moulding of miniaturized parts with micro features was carried out and process parameters (temperature of the melt, temperature of the mould, injection speed) were varied on a statistically designed experimental plan. Cavity injection pressures and cavity injection times have been determined based on pressure vs. time measurements with a sampling frequency of 10kHz. A statistical analysis was carried out to correlate cavity injection pressure and time to the levels of the different process parameters. Results showed a large influence of the injection speed on both the cavity injection time and pressure.
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