N10. robotic handling - is becoming more common in injection molding operations. Robots are used for removal of finished parts, sprues and runners from injection molds, to position parts for subsequent operations, and to perform some secondary operations. For some operations such as sprue removal, simple mechanical robots are often adequate. For more complex operations involving obtaining and placing inserts or handling, removing, stacking or packing finished pieces, more sophisticated computer-controlled robots are required. (Removing parts often requires a more complex operation than sprue removal because more extensive motions after removal are included.) The most complex robotic operations involve sensors, continuous path computer control and sophisticated programs. They can provide fully automatic operation of an injection molding machine. See Fig. 14G5.

N11. deflashing - is necessary after a number of molding operations for both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic parts. The deburring and deflashing methods described in Chapter 3 of this handbook are generally applicable to plastic and elastomer parts. Of particularly interest is cryogenicdeflashing, described in 3K25.

N12. reel-to-reel molding (continuous strip molding) - is an automatic insert molding process. Prior to the molding operation, the insert is blanked and formed from metal strip but is not severed from the strip, which is wound on a reel. The strip is then fed from the reel into the injection molding machine, which molds plastic material around the insert. The metal strip is precisely indexed in the injection molding machine. The individual molded parts are not separated from the strip during or immediately after molding. Instead, the strip of molded parts is wound onto a take-up reel. The major use of the process is for small electronic components which are not separated from the strip until they are automatically assembled to circuit boards or other components. The process requires high volume production to amortize the costs of the equipment required. Connectors, dip switches, shunts and other devices are the most common applications but medical devices, toys, and other products may also make use of the process. The molded part may include several stamped components. Wire may be used instead of strip in some components.