DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY (Dec. 12, 9:35 a.m. EST) — Caropreso Associates, a longtime consulting firm for low-pressure injection molding processes, has launched a control module to manage cavity pressure.
The company, based in Chester, Mass., introduced a gas counter-pressure control module in October during K 2001 in Dusseldorf. The compact unit uses a Siemens microcontroller to predetermine the amount of nitrogen gas or compressed air needed for a sealed mold before resin is injected.
The system also communicates with the press to manage gas flow in and out of the mold, said Michael Caropeso, principal of the consulting firm and developer of the system.
The table-top system costs about $5,000. Caropreso said it can help improve surface quality and saves energy. It competes with much larger, more expensive gas-control systems, such as the Intellimold process offered by Textron Automotive Co. Inc., he said.
Caropreso, who has been an adviser for more than 20 years on gas-assist and structural-foam molding applications, said his first piece of equipment has another advantage over many gas-assist processes.
“You can buy the system without paying licenses and royalties,” he said.
