My latest project -- plastic injection molder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS42GLjuOBw
CO

I'm getting closer.
In the process of doing the worst job -- wiring -- my weak point.
Still have to make a small hopper but the window is already cut in the tube.
Then the two big jobs are next -- making a mold for the front shock bushing that the oddy has and then cutting up a bunch of plastic. I plan on cutting up a 5 gal bucket for the plastic.
CO

Got it operational now but setting the temp probe will need some fine tuning.
Not getting the temps I need.
Did I mention that I hate electrical ?
CO

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmsZuqK2NBI
CO

Research the controller, the unused probe might be the problem? Is there a manual for both installing and adjusting?

Loving the creativeness.

In my early years I have worked as an industrial maintenance mechanic on both plastic and aluminum die casting injection molding machines, we had one 400 ton injection molding machine, it was a BEAST!

What you need once you hit the lottery....
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=3D+printer

I know what you mean about that injection molding machine you worked on.
There was a company many years ago in my area that was looking for a millwright so I went for a look.
That company was awesome inside. They had a special room with cnc machines and an army of programmers. They made their own molds.
They had a 400 ton and two 350 ton (I believe) machines and one smaller machine. There was another machine off in the corner and they wanted someone to set it up and get it running.
The machines had water cooling running through the molds. It was cool stuff.
The day I was there they were making those paper towel dispensing machines you see in bathrooms at all businesses.
I declined the job because they were paying peanuts and I had to drive 1 hr one way through rush hour traffic just to get to work.
Now that I'm older I wish I would have took the job just for a few months to check it out.
CO

Get yourself some ceramic insulation like Kaowool, you could also use silencer packing and wrap the end, if you can feel any heat on the outside then that is just wasted energy, unless you are huddling around it to keep warm :)
be sure to have a thermocouple attached to the tube so you can control the temperature.
Curious, what are you using for a piston seal to keep the hot plastic from extruding back?
something you have probably already considered, on your mold, I would think you need to preheat so the plastic going in does not solidify as soon as it hits the fixture.
Keep up the good work!

Hey Kuma thanks for the feed back.
Let's take these one at a time because it seems like you know something about this and I do have some questions because this is not my trade.
1) Kaowool insulation to stop heat loss -- I didn't even think about that.
2) Thermocouple -- I'm actually having issues with this.
I welded a threaded coupling nut on the tube and then drill a bolt to except the thermocoupling so it don't fall out. The tip of the thermocoupling touches the tube.
It reads the run up temperature perfectly according to my heat gun but then when it shuts down the controller the thermocoupling is still reading high and it takes a very long time for the temp reading to drop. By then according to my heat gun the tube reads HALF the temp the thermocoupling does before it kicks the controller on again.
I don't know what causes this. I even tried to lay the thermocoupling on top of the tube on hold it there with a hose clamp but no cigar. Same readings.
I don't really know what to do about this because I don't know what I'm doing wrong and I'm NOT an electron mechanic. I hate electrical and I'm no good at it.
3) Piston seal -- Yes I've thought about this but the pipe I'm using is just a piece of water pipe with the seam inside. I know this was a bad choice. As a result I had to notch a groove in the front end of the rod for clearance. So my idea was to load up most of the tube and since I'm only going to use about the first 4 or 5 inches (first two heater bands) I figure the unmelted plastic bits at the back end with cause a back stop. This "might" be wishful creative thinking but if it fails then I will just buy a piece of seamless tube instead of using pipe.
4) Preheat mold -- I'm not sure but I don't think this is going to be an issue.
The molds I'm going to make are not going to be cnc made or even all metal. I've come up with another idea. It's just different and you'll see as this project goes along. Failure is an option.
Anything I make will most likely be small. I was thinking of making an original copy of the FL350 shifter knob as my first project.

Any feed back positive or negative is always welcome.
It gives me ideas and makes me think.
NOBODY has the lock on good ideas and anyone's yap is important.
I know I'm not the smartest guy on the planet but I try.
FAILURE IS AN OPTION

CO

Currently uploading a new vid on this project but it will take about a half hour.
It should be loaded by 3:40pm west coast time.
Here is the link: https://youtu.be/IHmxFpVbsGc
CO

It's been a slow go because I've been busy, mostly for my mom's doctors appointments and driving friends for their appointments.
I'm retired and get all my pensions next month but I'm so busy I need to get a real job just so I can have a rest.
I'm hoping to do the bottom pour on this mold tonight.
CO

First de-mold.
https://youtu.be/TCpq8pPVQYg
There are a few air bubble imperfections in the casting so I'll have to try to fix them up.
The mixture of plaster of paris and concrete set up really really fast. I didn't want a runny mixture and that was a mistake.
De-molding was very easy and it came apart clean.
CO

Wow, too cool, just enjoy following along and learning...thanks for taking the time to post!

Thanks for the encouragement.
Next vid: https://youtu.be/rpKX6tHBAmo

I'm hoping to try my first plastic injection on Wed Feb 4th.
On Mon I'll let this concrete mix set for a day.
On Tues I have to take my mom to her eye dr.
So at the moment it looks like Wed.
CO

https://youtu.be/HTWYy1PkqUM
CO

Here are the final two videos in this project and the end result.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmXAimbsh58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2b9CKKAaRc

CO

I was going to yell at you for not pulling your shield down, but then you caught yourself the second time. Hot abs don’t cool off just cause it’s on your face.lol

I am very safety conscious because I worked heavy industry my entire life and have seen some bad accidents.

My best friend from high school got his arm in a conveyor drive in 1977 because the "boss" threatened to fire him if he turned that conveyor off again to unjam it and it nearly ripped his arm off his body. It took all of the meat from his arm pit down and put it all in a ball at his wrist before someone noticed. End of one finger missing, elbow broken in 7 places, wrist permanently unable to move. They were going to amputate but he was only 18 so they tried to save it and they did.
We are old men now and he said he now wished they would cut it off because of the nerve pain now.

I was personally involved in 1978 to cutting torch our carpenter out of a conveyor -- they cut his leg off below the knee.

Another guy lost his leg the exact same way as our carpenter but I wasn't on shift at the time.
There are more !

Maybe some will laugh at me for some of excessive safety things I do in my shop when I try something new -------- you never know what can go wrong in an experiment.
I was wearing the leathers, face shield, gloves and safety boots.
There was a reason because I thought there might be a high pressure back squirt of liquid plastic that would come out by the tube loading funnel which is right by my face. This thing is a log splitter and has over 5 tons of pressure.
Now I know what to expect and won't need some of that stuff next time.
CO

Safety is especially important when you work alone.