A molding machine (800, 900, 1000) comprising a molding system (200, 300, 400, 801), the molding system (200, 300, 400, 801) comprising: a mold (808, 810, 1036) defining a mold cavity; and, an extruder associated with the mold (808, 810, 1036), the extruder including a barrel (210, 310, 410, 824, 1012), an extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) inside the barrel (210, 310, 410, 824, 1012), and a nozzle (208, 308, 408, 822, 1020) in sealed engagement with the mold (808, 810, 1036); the molding machine (800, 900, 1000) further comprising a clamp system associated with the molding system (200, 300, 400, 801); one or more sensors associated with the mold (808, 810, 1036), the molding system (200, 300, 400, 801) and/or the clamp system, and configured to provide real-time feedback of a parameter indicative of a real-time pressure in the mold cavity, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a torque-load sensor; and, a controller configured to monitor said parameter and to determine a real-time pressure in the mold cavity, and to control the extruder to: rotate the extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) in a first direction to cause flow of molten material into the mold cavity, in response to a pressure drop in the mold cavity as the molten material in the mold cavity begins to cool, further rotate the extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) in the first direction to pump additional molten material into the mold cavity to achieve a targeted pressure in the mold cavity, and rotate the extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) in a second direction opposite the first direction to cease the flow of molten material after the targeted pressure associated with the extruder is achieved, thus decompressing the barrel (210, 310, 410, 824, 1012). a mold (808, 810, 1036) defining a mold cavity; and, an extruder associated with the mold (808, 810, 1036), the extruder including a barrel (210, 310, 410, 824, 1012), an extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) inside the barrel (210, 310, 410, 824, 1012), and a nozzle (208, 308, 408, 822, 1020) in sealed engagement with the mold (808, 810, 1036); the molding machine (800, 900, 1000) further comprising a clamp system associated with the molding system (200, 300, 400, 801); one or more sensors associated with the mold (808, 810, 1036), the molding system (200, 300, 400, 801) and/or the clamp system, and configured to provide real-time feedback of a parameter indicative of a real-time pressure in the mold cavity, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a torque-load sensor; and, a controller configured to monitor said parameter and to determine a real-time pressure in the mold cavity, and to control the extruder to: rotate the extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) in a first direction to cause flow of molten material into the mold cavity, in response to a pressure drop in the mold cavity as the molten material in the mold cavity begins to cool, further rotate the extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) in the first direction to pump additional molten material into the mold cavity to achieve a targeted pressure in the mold cavity, and rotate the extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) in a second direction opposite the first direction to cease the flow of molten material after the targeted pressure associated with the extruder is achieved, thus decompressing the barrel (210, 310, 410, 824, 1012). rotate the extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) in a first direction to cause flow of molten material into the mold cavity, in response to a pressure drop in the mold cavity as the molten material in the mold cavity begins to cool, further rotate the extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) in the first direction to pump additional molten material into the mold cavity to achieve a targeted pressure in the mold cavity, and rotate the extrusion screw (202, 302, 402, 502, 600A, 600B) in a second direction opposite the first direction to cease the flow of molten material after the targeted pressure associated with the extruder is achieved, thus decompressing the barrel (210, 310, 410, 824, 1012).