35 E-Catalogues of Equipment for Constructing an Injection …
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35.4.2 Virtualization of an Injection Molding Line
A virtual injection molding line is constructed as a multi-agent system as shown
in Fig. 35.7. Component agents are an injection molding machine agent, a mold
temperature controller agent, a molding extraction robot agent, a mold agent and
a pellet agent. E-catalogues for an injection molding machine, a mold temperature
controller and a molding extraction robot are prepared. An injection molding machine
agent, a mold temperature controller agent and a molding extraction robot agent are
generated corresponding to selected e-catalogue items by referring to operation data.
Operation data includes the injection molding machine ID with a mold temperature
controller ID and a molding extraction robot ID, a molded part ID, a number of
the molded part, a mold ID, and so on. A mold agent is generated by referring to
the operation data and the mold data. A pellet agent is generated according to the
product data and the pellet data. The product data includes a type of a molded part,
usable mold IDs, used pellet ID and so on. The pellet data include material, color,
weight, required hopper temperature, required cylinder temperature, and required
nozzle temperature.
Fig. 35.7 Constructing a virtual injection molding line