Arburg's micro press uses 2-screw process
A new micro-injection module from press maker Arburg GmbH + Co. KG uses two screws — one for melting the material and one for injection. Other alternatives use a combination of a screw and a piston for injection.
Micromolding can involve shot weights of less than 1 gram. One problem with these tiny parts is too long of a dwell time in the injection unit. Also, the displacement distance of the screw is extremely short because of the small injection volume.
Arburg's module uses two screws that “share” the preparation, dosing and injection of the resin. First, a servo electrically driven screw pre-plasticizing section is installed at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal injection unit. The molten material is then transported to the injection unit.
The injection screw, with a diameter of only 8 millimeters, is fitted with a non-return valve.
Arburg, of Lossburg, Germany, said the interplay of screw pre-plasticizing and injection ensures excellent processing that is gentle on the plastic.
A Selogica control system runs the press, ensuring that newly dosed material is always available for every shot, which keeps material dwell times short, Arburg said.
The company's U.S. operation, Arburg Inc., is in Newington, Conn.
Tel. 860-667-6500, fax 860-667-6524, e-mail [email protected].
French molder signs license with RocTool
The Plastilvaloire Group, a France-based injection molding company, has signed its fourth license agreement with RocTool SAS for manufacturing interior automotive parts.
The agreement takes the cooperation further, as Plastilvaloire incorporates RocTool's 3iTech process of heating a mold using electromagnetic induction, enabling the company to obtain automotive surface-quality parts without any visible weld lines or seal lines, and short production times.
Plastivaloire already molds parts using RocTool mold-heating systems at its plant in Tunisia. This year, the company will pass the 1 million-part mark using RocTool technologies.
Plastivaloire, formally Le Groupe Plastiques du Val de Loire, is based in Langeais, France. RocTool is in Le Bourget du Lac, France. RocTool North America is in Atlanta.
Tel. 866-260-2572, fax 404-233-8625, e-mail [email protected].
Kreyenborg offering latest discharge units
Kreyenborg GmbH offers modular discharge units, including melt pumps and screen changers, for the production of PET flat films on high-performance flat-film extrusion lines. The lines use recycled PET.
The company said the equipment meets the high demands of film extrusion on the homogenous melt quality and constant pressure.
Kreyenborg is based in Munster, Germany.
Tel. 49-251-21405-856, fax 49-251-21405-665, e-mail k.engel [email protected].
MGS Ill. clean room gains certification
MGS Mfg. Group Inc. received ISO 13485:2003 certification for the clean room at its plant in Antioch, Ill.
The certification is for quality management systems for medical-device requirements.
MGS is based in Germantown, Wis., where the company runs an ISO-certified Class 8 clean room.
Tel. 262-255-5790, e-mail rebecca [email protected].
Magnets decrease mold-change time
DocMagnet Inc., which supplies magnetic work-holding and handling equipment, now offers magnetic quick-mold-change magnets for the injection molding industry, plus magnets for the mold-making sector.
“There is a serious lack of competition in this market, particularly now that QMC magnets are becoming more accepted,” said DocMagnet President Simon Barton.
Magnetic mold-clamping systems dramatically cut the time for mold changes.
Barton, a magnet designer, was product manager of Stäubli Corp.'s magnetic mold-clamping line, which he developed. He also was a founder of Alpha Workholding Solutions.
Tel. 919-788-7999, e-mail in [email protected].
TruePath module aids robot function
Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH & Co. KG has introduced its path planning module, TruePath, for use with its R8 robot controller.
Every robot movement is made with the ideal entrance and exit angles and their respective speeds. TruePath is geared to robot movements related to requirements of the injection press or downstream work cell. The algorithms are designed for less vibration and quickest operation.
Wittmann Battenfeld officials say this gives the most efficient robot movements, and the fewest movements over time.
Special functions include SmartRemoval, EcoMode and Soft Torque, FlexSafe and PartTrack.
The R8 control is available for the entire line of Wittmann robots.
The company's U.S. headquarters is in Torrington, Conn.
Tel. 860-496-9603, fax 860-482-2069, e-mail [email protected].