Updated 7/11/2022 Published 12/27/2016

Understanding Intensification Ratio

A first step in taking the “art” out of molding.

John Bozzelli

Founder, Injection Molding Solutions

Why Knowing the Intensification Ratio Is Critical

However, when I started out, it was at a time when some machine manufactures realized it was cheaper to buy stock hydraulic cylinders rather custom building a hydraulic cylinder to match each different screw for a 10:1 ratio. So with the newer machines. the intensification ratio varied with different screw sizes. Once I learned about intensification ratio, I went back to the shop and calculated them for machines A and B. This took some time as it was, and still is decades later, a hassle to find out exact hydraulic ram areas.

Turns out machine A had an intensification ratio of 10:1, and machine B was 14.6:1. The mold needed 23,000 psi (1585 bar) to fill. Machine A had only 20,000 psi (1380 bar)—not enough. Machine B had 29,200 psi (2014 bar)—some to spare.

It was not Murphy’s Law or art that explained my problems with Machine A, it was physics (science). This was my “aha!” moment that highlighted the difference between machine variables and plastic variables: Duplicate plastic variables, not machine variables, to get consistent parts. It was an embarrassing number of years before the “science” of intensification ratio came to light. I only wish someone had clued me in from the beginning.

Working with plastic variables will solve problems and make processing more understandable. Pressure is one the most important variables in molding. Duplicating plastic pressures will make identical parts. Electric machines are no problem, as there is no hydraulic ram pushing the screw. They read plastic pressure directly. Essentially all electrics have an intensification ratio of 1:1.

Hydraulic machines, on the other hand, work with hydraulic power. Molders need to understand that hydraulic power is converted (multiplied or intensified) into plastic pressure (melt pressure in the nozzle). The law of physics involved is F = P × A. That is, force (F) is equal to pressure (P) multiplied by area (A). The large hydraulic ram pushes the screw, and the non-return valve (check valve) acts as a plunger pushing plastic through the nozzle into the mold.

The hydraulic ram has a large surface area; let’s use 150 cm2 as an example. The non-return valve during injection forward acts as a smaller ram; let’s use 15 cm2. This large-to-small ratio of ram areas intensifies or magnifies the hydraulic pressure as it is converted to plastic pressure in the injection nozzle. Here, hydraulic pressure is intensified or multiplied by a factor of 10. This is the machine’s intensification ratio and explains how several hundred psi of hydraulic pressure can provide thousands of psi plastic pressure inside the nozzle. That is, 800 psi (55 bar) psi of hydraulic pressure
provides roughly 8000 psi (551.7 bar) of melt pressure inside the nozzle.

Most machines today are not 10:1 in intensification ratio.

Today you can buy machines with intensification ratios ranging from 6:1 to 43:1. Custom machines can go even higher. Most machines today are not 10:1. It is plastic pressure that pushes plastic into the sprue, runner, gate, and mold cavity, not hydraulic pressure. This plastic pressure must be duplicated as you go from to machine to machine with the same mold. If your plant has different sizes or makes of machines, most likely they have different intensification ratios. That is, 800 psi (55 bar) pack-and-hold pressure on one machine with an intensification of 10:1 develops 8000 psi (551.7 bar) plastic pressure in the nozzle, but on another machine with an intensification ratio of 12.75:1, 800 psi hydraulic pressure develops 10,200-psi (703 bar) plastic packing pressure in the nozzle. You will not make the same part. To make the same part using the same lot or color etc., you must develop the same nozzle pressure of 8000 psi (551.7 bar). That is, use only 627 psi (about 43 bar) hydraulic pack pressure on the second machine.

Calculate Intensification Ratio

Ideally, you should know the screw diameter and the functional hydraulic ram diameter to calculate the ratio of areas. Unfortunately, you will spend hours looking for the hydraulic ram area and in some cases, it cannot be found in the machine manuals. While this is the best way, it is not practical.

An easier method is to find the machine specifications, identify which diameter screw you have in the machine, and from the machine specifications find the maximum plastic or melt pressure. Machine suppliers have various names for plastic pressure, such as “injection pressure” or “specific pressure.” Then go to the machine and find what maximum hydraulic pressure you are allowed to set for injection or first stage. Do not take it from the machine specifications, as they may list pump pressure, which is different from the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder. Once you have these two numbers you can calculate the machine’s intensification ratio with the following equation (see illustration):

Ri = Maximum injection (plastic) pressure ÷ maximum hydraulic pressure for the injection unit.

From the machine specifications, we find that the maximum injection or plastic pressure possible is (for the sake of example) 26,500 psi. From the machine’s controller we find that the maximum hydraulic pressure we can set for the injection cylinder is 2250 psi. So:

Ri = 26,500 psi/2250 psi = 11.78:1.

To calculate the plastic pressure for backpressure during screw rotation with a machine setting of 75 psi hydraulic, multiply the hydraulic pressure times the intensification ratio. In this case:

Backpressure (plastic) = 75 psi x 11.78 = 884 psi

If you transferred this process to an electric machine, you would have to set 883 psi as the input for backpressure.

Bottom line: For processing plastics, work in plastic pressure using the intensification ratio for hydraulic machines. Hydraulic pressure does not tell you what you need to know. Intensification ratio does and it should even be on your setup sheet. Machine builders need to start putting this critically important number on all their specification sheets. You should not have to waste your time getting the numbers to calculate it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John Bozzelli is the founder of Injection Molding Solutions (Scientific Molding) in Midland, Mich., a provider of training and consulting services to injection molders, including LIMS, and other special- ties. Contact john@scientificmolding.com.