Paulson delivers LAN, WAN training
Paulson Training Programs Inc. of Chester, Conn., has announced new software licensing packages designed for companies that want to deliver worker training through their local or wide area networks.
``We've been seeing more and more interest in implementing our training programs in LAN and WAN environments, and the market is telling us that this trend will keep growing, and at quite a rapid pace,'' Paulson President John Underhill said.
As broad-band network connections are becoming more common, it is now possible to deliver the multimedia content of Paulson compact-disc lessons from a central server to network client computers, without any reduction in quality, the firm said.
Tel. (860) 526-3099, fax (860) 526-3454, e-mail [email protected]
EOA tooling designed for articulating robots
SAS Automation Ltd. of Xenia, Ohio, introduces end-of-arm tooling for five- and six-axis articulating robots.
Designs for articulating robots must allow enough room for the robot arm to unfold, since most tools will enter the injection molding press from the top or side. The end-of-arm tooling, therefore, must be less complex as the robot provides multiple motions with the manufacturing cell.
SAS said many articulating robots do not come with a standard valve package, which must be added to accept the tooling functions.
Also new from SAS is a retracting vacuum arm for end-of-arm tooling and gripper cups. The arm, which costs $99, automatically retracts quickly once the vacuum cup grips the part.
Tel. (937) 372-5255, fax (937) 372-5555.
Barr VBET screw has greater melt rates
Screw design firm Barr Inc. introduced a new VBET-brand screw, which increases the conductive melting capacity and achieves greater melting rates with improved extrudate qualities, with low shear. VBET is designed for single-screw extrusion.
A blown film processor approached Barr for help blending a metallocene linear low density polyethylene, but experienced a considerable melt fracture in the film, according to Jeff Myers, Barr's vice president of sales. The customer thought that was caused by residual metallocene solids, the result of lubrication of the metallocene pellets by the lower-viscosity LLDPE, so that the metallocene resins could not be melted by shear. The customer did not want to add processing aids to reduce melt fracture, Myers said.
Barr recognized the limitations of barrier screws, since with their typical design, about 90 percent of the polymer is melted by high shear in the barrier section. Temperatures are higher, which is undesirable in many applications.
The solution was VBET, which uses an elongated section like that used on Barr's ET screw. VBET uses more channel peaks than the older ET. Barr eliminated the barrier section and intentionally broke up the solid bed sooner, making a screw with very low shear.
The result, tested on blown film, was a significantly higher output rate before melt fracture, said the Virginia Beach, Va., firm.
Tel. (757) 428-4032, e-mail [email protected]
UltraCem coating eliminates corrosion
UltraCem, a newly patented metal-finishing process from Universal Chemical Technologies Inc., solves problems of corrosion, sticking and fatigue in patterns and mold and die castings.
UltraCem, which retains mold-release agents, can coat virtually any metal alloy, including steel, aluminum, powdered metal and cast iron. It can be removed chemically and replated without additional machining.
UCT is based in Stuart, Fla.
Tel. (561) 223-6699, fax (561) 223-9996, e-mail [email protected]
FaSolid software gets capability upgrade
Dallas-based Plastics & Computer Inc. has upgraded the faSolid programs of its TMconcept process simulation software.
The faSolid programs include a three-dimensional simulation of solid-element mold filling, packing, shrinkage/warpage and cooling for use in part engineering, mold design and determination of optimum processing conditions.
The software also can handle family molds and do sequential molding analysis.
Tel. (972) 934-6705, fax (972) 934-6755, e-mail [email protected]