I have written many technical articles about hot runner, but it seems that the most basic installation method has not been shared with everyone. Actually, there are several methods available online. Now I will combine my personal experience with online resources to explain the installation method:
1. Place the mold properly, lay the upper die flat, and clean all holes and plates with an air gun.
2. Check the dimensions of each hole, especially the depth. Remove burrs on the plate. At the same time, check the screw holes for locking the manifold, and the center pin and anti-rotation pin holes to ensure they are fully processed. This step is often overlooked by those who are making hot runner molds for the first time.
3. Apply red dan on the sealing position and upper step position of the nozzle where it mates with the mold.
4. Trial assemble the nozzles and then disassemble them to check if the sealing position 1 is touched by the red dan and if the step position 2 contacts the mold. If not, stop the installation, find out the cause of the error and make adjustments. Ensure a tight fit without leakage. Be careful not to damage the nozzle tip during this process.
5. Assemble all nozzles, including the center pad, center pin, and anti-rotation pin. Apply red dan on their surfaces.
6. Check the height of the nozzle plane and the center pad, ensuring the error is within 0.05mm.
7. Trial assemble the manifold. Note: Do not forget to install the nozzle sealing ring when formally assembling the manifold.
8. Check the fit between the manifold and the nozzles, ensuring that all areas are touched by the red dan, thus guaranteeing no leakage.
9. Organize the wiring of the nozzles, making sure it is neat and aesthetically pleasing. Number each set of wires in order and connect them to the socket.
10. Formally install the manifold and tighten the fixing screws (Note: Tighten evenly to keep the four corners of the manifold at the same height), controlling the height of the manifold gasket to be 0.10-0.15mm higher than the surrounding mold frame plane. Then apply red dan on the manifold gasket.
11. Trial assemble the code template, checking whether the plane touches the red dan on the gasket, ensuring that the template presses down on the manifold gasket.
12. Lock the mold, stand it up, and check the fit between the gate and the nozzle tip from the parting surface. The nozzle tip should be 0.1-0.2mm lower than the gate surface, and the nozzle tip must not be eccentric. Carefully check each circuit with a multimeter, ensuring no short circuits, open circuits, or leaks, and that each set of circuits corresponds correctly, thus ensuring all circuits are normal.
13. Connect the temperature controller and conduct a trial heating. The first heating should be kept below 100 degrees for ten minutes for preheating and dehumidification to protect the heater. Then heat up to the required temperature. If everything is normal, the mold can be arranged for formal installation and testing.
These are basically the steps, but remember, methods are rigid while people are flexible. I hope everyone can further study or delve deeper into this area, and also hope that everyone can come up with more innovative ways to install hot runners.