Cleaning your hot runner system

Jimmy Barnes
Authored by Jimmy Barnes
Posted: Monday, December 27, 2021 - 06:50

Hot runner systems are a complex part of injection mold manufacturing. Like any piece of equipment in your manufacturing process, hot runner systems need to be well maintained in order to operate effectively and efficiently. This article will give you an overview of hot runner systems and everything you need to know about hot runner cleaning

What is a Hot Runner System?

A hot runner system is a particular variety of component in an injection molding machine. The runner is the section of an injection machine that is between the mold inlet and the gate. When material is being transferred through the runner it remains in liquid form due to the pressure and heat of the material during injection. 

Hot runners are designed with many details in mind to ensure that they are effective. Manufacturers need to consider how the runner will facilitate efficient mold filling, while also ensuring that material is not lost during the injection process. 

Hot Runner Cleaning

There are various ways to proceed with cleaning of a hot runner system. You want to make sure for your system that you find the method that will be least intrusive so that you don’t have to take any extended breaks from production. 

One of the methods for cleaning is to disassemble the machine and get a specialist to manually clean out the runners and other elements. This is certainly an effective method that will thoroughly clean out all areas that need attention, while also ensuring that all parts are well-greased and ready for production. Since this can halt production for a long time, however, it is better to avoid this type of hot runner cleaning unless you need to disassemble the machine for other reasons anyway, such as repairs or new part installation.

Another method for cleaning hot runners is to use a cleaner that is specially developed for injection molding machines. These cleaners are put through the injection molding process just like a molding material would be. They typically include high efficiency compounds that will remove any contaminants through injection into the hot runner, so you are not required to shut down or disassemble the machine in order to proceed with cleaning. This method can be very effective and helps you to reduce time and energy expended in the cleaning process, therefore maximizing the efficiency of your production system. 

Best Hot Runner Cleaning Methods for You

When deciding on the best method for cleaning your machine’s hot runners, you should consider factors such as the types of machines you have, whether or not you will need to disassemble them for another purpose, and how they are being used in production. Make sure that you use the approach to hot runner cleaning that will be easiest for you, but also give you the most effective cleaning for your needs.



 

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