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LFT Injection Screw Design Optimization

The core challenge in LFT injection molding is preserving fiber length during plasticization. High shear forces from conventional screws break the long fibers — reducing part performance dramatically.

Doolike Optimization Strategy

01 Low-Shear Screw Design

L/D ratio 18:1–20:1, deeper flights, lower shear rate — no barrier mixing elements

02 Screw Speed Control

Speed maintained at 30–70 rpm — above 100 rpm causes shear heat and fiber breakage

03 Back Pressure Management

Back pressure <5 MPa — avoids over-compression and friction at screw tip

04 Screw Material

Dual alloy steel (tungsten-cobalt coating) — high wear resistance, reduced fiber abrasion

05 Surface Treatment

Nitriding or chrome plating — reduces melt adhesion and fiber residence time

Before vs After — Performance Comparison

Metric Traditional Screw Doolike Optimized
Fiber Retention Rate 50–60% 80–90%+
Part Tensile Strength 120 MPa 180 MPa
Screw Service Life 6–12 months 18–24 months

Design Objective: Reduce fiber shear fracture during plasticization, maintain fiber length >5mm, and ensure mechanical properties of the final part.

Precision Carbon Fiber Mold Design & Manufacturing

Mold Material Selection

Category Recommended Solution
Base Steel Pre-hardened steel (S136, S136H) HRC 45–50
High-Temp / Corrosion 8407/8418/8503 non-stick steel; Cemented carbide
Coating Technology DLC (diamond), CrN or TiAlN coatings
Surface Finish Mirror-polished Ra <0.1μm

Manufacturing Process Flow

1. Rough Machining CNC milling, 0.2–0.5mm finishing allowance
2. Heat Treatment Stress-relief annealing in vacuum furnace
3. Precision Machining 5-axis HSM high-speed milling, ±0.01mm tolerance
4. EDM Electrode Prep Graphite electrode engraving for complex geometry
5. EDM / Spark Erosion Mirror EDM for deep slots, narrow slots and precision structures
6. Polishing &amp; Coating Ultrasonic polishing to Ra &lt;0.1μm + PVD/CVD wear coating

Mold Optimization Results

Metric Traditional Mold Doolike Optimized
Mold Shot Life200,000 shots500,000 shots
Surface RoughnessRa 0.8 μmRa 0.1 μm
Fiber Retention Rate70%90%

Auxiliary Process Technologies

Fiber Orientation Control (Moldflow Analysis)

Fiber distribution is predicted by Moldflow simulation, and the gate location and cooling system are optimized so that fibers are orderly arranged along the force direction — maximizing structural strength in the load-bearing direction.

  • Gate position optimization for fiber alignment
  • Cooling system design to minimize residual stress
  • Weld line and warpage prediction
  • Fiber orientation mapping for structural analysis

Post-Treatment Technology (Annealing)

Parts are annealed at 10–20°C below the resin melting point to release internal stress and reduce fiber-matrix interface delamination — significantly improving dimensional stability and long-term performance.

  • Reduces residual stress from rapid cooling
  • Prevents fiber-matrix interface delamination
  • Improves dimensional stability over time
  • Enhances fatigue life of LFT components
80%+
Fiber Retention Rate
180 MPa
Tensile Strength
50万+
Mold Shot Life
±0.01mm
Machining Tolerance

Discuss Your Technical Requirements

Our material and process engineers are available for technical consultations — from material selection to mold design and process optimization.