ATLANTA — Controlling the mold temperature is a key parameter to thermoforming good parts, ACS Group's Scott Weaver said during a technical session at the Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference.
Weaver said it's important to design the cooling channels. He recommended using parallel circuiting whenever possible to allow greater coolant flow. He reviewed recommended water flow rates, measured per ton of cooling.
Weaver is industrial markets/OEM sales engineer at ACS's headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill.
He outlined types of mold temperature control equipment, including single or multiple units, direct-injection water temperature control units and larger oil-temperature control units.
Cooling water systems can be portable package units that can move around the plant, as needed, central plant-wide water chilling systems or evaporative cooling tower systems, Weaver said.