Temperature Control Units

A mould temperature controller (temperature control unit, TCU) circulates water or oil through the channels of an injection mould and keeps it at a set temperature. A stable mould temperature determines how evenly the part cools, so it directly affects cycle time, dimensional accuracy, surface quality and scrap rate.

Carnot's Molder series covers 5 to 60 kW and holds the set temperature within ±1 °C using PID control. Units can sit beside the machine or be integrated into a central system.

The circulating fluid is chosen from the mould temperature the polymer requires:

• Water circulation: for lower mould temperatures; water transfers heat efficiently and is easy to handle.
• Oil circulation: for high mould temperatures up to 150 °C, required by engineering polymers that need a hot mould.

Mould temperatures and fluid selection by polymer are covered in our Plastics & Rubber Process Cooling guide.

See the Molder page for model details.

A temperature control unit and a chiller work together: the chiller supplies cold water to the plant, while the TCU brings each mould precisely to its own set point. In injection moulding, the hydraulic oil and the machine itself are typically cooled by the chiller circuit, and the moulds are conditioned individually by TCUs.

We size both sides together — see the Thule and Tundra series for the chiller side, and Plastics & Rubber Process Cooling for the capacity calculation.