Optimization of shrinkage on thick plate plastic part by using particle swarm optimization (PSO)

The increasing in demand of plastics produced product, causing the plastics industries to grow. Hence, to this industries quality of part is one of the top priorities. This paper focus on minimizing the shrinkage, which is one of the main quality defects in plastic products. Optimization tools applied in this study is the Particle Swarm Optimization. Based on this tools, the optimal settings in reducing the shrinkage percentage was achieved. The shrinkage percentage produced through PSO is lower as compared to the recommended shrinkage value generated by AMI. In x direction the recommended shrinkage value gained in AMI are 1.95% in x direction and 1.85% in y direction. Meanwhile by PSO method, the shrinkage percentage value in x direction is 1.78% and 1.63% in y direction respectively. Hence it is shown that the tools of optimization, was able to produces an optimal settings with a reduction in shrinkage percentages of part.