Application Of Co-Injection Technology To Handles For The Gear Lever

Automotive is one of the most dynamic sectors and new technologies are continuously being tested in order to get new applications with improved characteristics or having in mind the minimising of costs. The co-injection process (or sandwich injection moulding) allows to produce in an only step multi-component parts with an internal core of a reinforced plastic completely covered by an external. aesthetic material..The companies A. I. CROMODURO and GAIKER are collaborating in a research project, being one of the main objectives of the project to apply this technology to the fabrication of handles for the gear lever. The results obtained within this work will be exposed in the paper or report submitted.The following tasks are being executed during the previous stages of design: selection of materials, part design and definition of basic processing parameters. So, the compatibility of the materials, their physical properties, and the processing variables has been characterised. Besides, simulation process by means of computer techniques is being carried out.During the second phase, it will be carried out the process of production of the prototypes. This phase includes the production of moulds -applying rapid tooling technologies- and manufacture, characterisation and validation of the manufactured prototypes as well as the profitability of the process.