Two shot Injection Molding
New Name in Two-Component Presses
The first two-color injection molding machines from Toshiba Machine Co. America, Elk Grove Village, Ill., were introduced last month at the Western Plastics Exposition in Long Beach, Calif. The ISGN-2C machines range from 86 to 243 tons and support a variety of two-component processes. Currently, the machines are available only in an L-shape configuration with the secondary injector at a 90 degrees angle to the clamp. All models have wide platens except the ISGN90-2C. Closed-loop control is standard on all sizes.
Retrofit Your Press To Shoot Tiny Parts
The latest advance in molding parts weighing less than 1 gram is the retrofittable Nanomelt injection unit from Battenfeld of America, West Warwick, R.I. An enhancement of the company’s Micromelt injector, the Nanomelt is a two-stage unit with a 14-mm screw of a new design that drastically reduces the amount of material inventory in the barrel. The screw is mounted in line with the injection “piston,” to which the screw is directly attached. Once the material has been plasticated, it passes through the hollow centre of the tube-like piston into a small injection chamber. A ball valve at the end of the piston prevents any backflow during the injection. The shot capacity is 1.1 cc or 1 g of PS.
The Nano met, along with related software and enhanced-resolution linear position sensors, can be retrofitted on a standard molding machine. “It’s an economical way to get into micro-moulding,” says product manager David Tremblay.
Two-Stage Presses Arrive from Japan
At last month’s Western Plastics Exposition in Long Beach, Calif., Sodick Inc. of Torrance, Calif., introduced a new line of Japanese-built two-stage-injection molding machines with hydraulic clamps. These “V-Line” presses, whose angled screws feed melt into a plunger mechanism, span a range of 20 to 286 tons.
Molding Software Kit Now Has Flow Analysis
The Molder’s Technician software collection from Spirex Corp., Youngstown, Ohio, now includes flow simulation among its computation, reference, and decision-support tools for molders. “Spirex Mold Fill” simulates cavity flow–as opposed to spiral-flow–to predict injection times, pressures, temperatures, and shear rates. Introduced at K’98, the enhanced software has an introductory price tag of $1000.
Get Cavity-Pressure Sensors from New Source
Cavity-pressure transducers were recently added to the line of mold components from Hasco-Internorm Corp. West, Chatsworth, Calif. Available in a variety of sizes, these piezoelectric transducers come in standard or high-heat versions. Hasco has also developed its own cavity-pressure monitoring software for PCs.
Hot-Runner Controller Now Has Autotuning
The popular 9500 Series hot-runner temperature controllers from Gammaflux L.P. of Sterling, Va., have a new software enhancement that automatically checks and optimizes the PID tuning for each zone. It is intended to recognize and solve a variety of tuning problems, such as a nozzle or tip that reaches its setpoint too slowly.
Called TuneRite, the autotuning feature has been rolled into the company’s Mold Doctor fault-analysis program.
Hot-Runner Manifold Fits in Your Hand
A tiny new line of hot-runner systems has been developed by Polyshot Corp. of Henrietta, N.Y. Called the Bank System, these palm-sized manifolds (roughly 6 in. long) come in either two- or four-probe configurations with tip center spacings as small as 1 in. The Bank System’s in-line manifolds are naturally balanced, and the system has only a single zone of control.
The new system is about one-third as high and half as long as Polyshot’s previous in-line manifolds, which have multiple zones and are intended for applications needing tip control.
Program Sprue Pickers Faster Than Ever
HOP Series sprue pickers from Yushin America Inc., Cranston, R.I., feature a new hand-held controller with enhanced memory and plain-English error messages. To speed robot tooling changes, the controller has memory for 15 mold set-ups, and users can choose from dozens of pre-programmed robot motions and gripping methods. Also featured are simplified digital timers, cycle and reject counters, and a “step mode” to verify robot programs.
Upgraded Vision System Comes in Simple Version
New Windows NT software for mold protection and parts inspection is available from Avalon Imaging of Boulder, Colo. PlantVision Pro software works in conjunction with Avalon’s PC-based vision system, VisionScope Pro. Compared with earlier DOS versions of the software, the Windows NT version allows easier networking and enables users to engage in multiple tasks–for example, checking a troubleshooting log while running mold protection at the same time.
The operating system change also allows new software features. One of them, ProcessRx, archives and plays back images of the mold face before and after ejection, giving users a historical view of process upsets.
Avalon also introduced a new basic PC vision system for Windows NT. PlantVision Basic software and VisionScope Basic hardware are intended for less complex molds. They lack some of the functionality of the Pro products but can be scaled up to the “Pro” level later on.
Automate Toggle Tonnage & Shut-Height Control
Automatic shut-height and tonnage control is a new option for the HT Series of toggle presses from Van Dorn Demag Corp., Strongsville, Ohio. Available on the company’s Pathfinder 3000 and 5000 controllers, the option employs two types of transducers on the link housing: A strain gauge on the back of the housing measures deflection during clamp lock-up. From these measurements, the controller can monitor or control clamp tonnage in a closed loop. A linear transducer on the link housing indicates mold thickness and shows the clamp position needed to achieve a given tonnage at lock-up. Want to know more information about two shot mold & double injection molding, please go to https://www.plasticmold.net/two-shot-mold/