Application of Soft Computing for the Prediction of Warpage of Plastic Injection Molded Parts

This paper deals with the development of accurate warpage prediction model for plastic injection molded parts using soft computing tools namely, artificial neural networks and support vector machines. For training, validating and testing of the warpage model, a number of MoldFlow (FE) analyses have been carried out using Taguchi’s orthogonal array in the design of experimental technique by considering the process parameters such as mold temperature, melt temperature, packing pressure, packing time and cooling time. The warpage values were found by analyses which were done by MoldFlow Plastic Insight (MPI) 5.0 software. The artificial neural network model and support vector machine regression model have been developed using conjugate gradient learning algorithm and ANOVA kernel function respectively. The adequacy of the developed models is verified by using coefficient of determination. To judge the ability and efficiency of the models to predict the warpage values absolute relative error has been used. The finite element results show, artificial neural network model predicts with high accuracy compared with support vector machine model.