Chocolate Injection Molding Machine

Injection molding was a revolutionary idea in the field of manufacturing. Plastic injection molding is a highly cost effective and efficient method of making plastic products. Therefore, there is a need to educate and demonstrate to engineering students the working of this technology. However, due to the high cost and high operating temperature and pressure of conventional plastic injection molding machines, it is not safe and practical to use in a classroom/laboratory setting. These machines also require training to operate. In order to overcome these difficulties, we have designed our own machine, that uses chocolate in place of plastic, due to its lower melting point, implemented an automatic control system that removes the need for a trained operator, and a low-cost thermal system to control heating and cooling of the chocolate using semiconductor refrigeration sheets. SolidWorks was used to build detailed 3D models, thermal and static analysis of the parts was conducted using ANSYS, to ensure the design would meet requirements and be safe to use. The components were 3D printed or processed by machine tools and assembled. Then the final testing was conducted to check for proper operation. Thus, we have created a product that can be used to educate schoolchildren the operation of injection molding machines and inspire their interest in mechanical engineering.