Product category:
Injection moulding
News Release from: Arburg | Subject: High-speed injection moulding machine
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 December 2006
High-speed injection moulding is precise
An all-electric plastics injection moulding machine with two-cavity dies produces two thin-walled plastics cups in two seconds - the cups are robotically unloaded.
The enormous potential of the fully-electric Allrounder A will be presented by Arburg at the Plastec West, which will be held from February 13-15, 2007 in Los Angeles/Anaheim, USA, on the basis of an illustrative example In hall B, stand 3927, an Allrounder 420 A 1000-400 (110 US tonf) will produce two plastic cups to demonstrate how high-speed, thin-walled, precision applications can be run on these machines
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 10 Jul 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The two cups will be produced in a cycle time of only two seconds, they will then be removed and stacked by a Waldorf robotic system and transported on a conveyor belt.
Precise, repeatable, clean operation and incredibly fast and energy-efficient too: These are the performance features of the fully-electric Allrounder A.
The drive concept of these machines is as suitable for the production of technical medical parts as for applications in the food, packaging and automotive industries.
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* High-speed machine works with two-cavity mould - the high-speed Allrounder 420 A 1000-400 has an distance of 420mm between tie bars, a clamping force of 1000kN (110 US tonf) and a size 400 injection unit (8.2oz).
The machine, equipped with a two-cavity mould, will produce polypropylene cups in an impressive 2s cycle time.
The shot weight for both cups is 16.4g (0.58oz).
In addition to a pneumatically operated needle shut-off nozzle for sprue-free injection, the machine also features a pneumatic ejector for fast demoulding.
President of Arburg USA, Friedrich Kanz, is impressed by the technical features of the electric Allrounder A: "The Allrounder A is naturally suited to the manufacturing process tasks of fast-cycling, high-precision and thin-walled parts which require exacting accuracy and repeatability.
Energy-efficiency performance of the modular drives combined with increased output, reduce part costs and shorten the return on investment " * The basis of cost-effective production - the Alldrive principle - the A series currently comprises five modular machine sizes, the Allrounders 320 A, 370 A.
420 A, 520 A and 570 A.
Together, they cover a clamping force range of between 500 and 2000kN (55-220 US tonf).
All machine functions - 'opening and closing of the mould', 'injection', 'dosing', 'ejection', 'nozzle movements' and 'mould functions' are all equipped with electric drives.
These direct drives are orientation and position-controlled and operate independently of each other, enabling cycle time reductions.
A very important benefit of the direct drives combined with liquid cooling is their inherent suitability for clean-room moulding.
* High-precision and reproducibility - since moulded part precision and repeatability depend essentially on the "injection" and "dosing" movement axes, these are operated electrically by an independent servomotor and reduction gear.
Positional precision and high dynamics in conjunction with the position control of the screw movement guarantee excellent repeatability during injection.
The direct servo electric drive has a positive effect on the accuracy during recovery and due to the overall efficiency also reduces power consumption.
Simultaneous recovery combined with other machine movements enable savings in cycle time and improved melt quality.
The spindles and threads are constantly lubricated via a centralised cool lubrication unit.
This ensures maintenance-free operation of the injection unit over an extremely long service life.
* Drive modularity - the standard electric axes can be combined on a modular basis, for example with a hydraulic auxiliary axis for integrated core-pull, thus enabling the machines to be tailored exactly in line with the application requirements.
* Pure dynamics - the advantages of the Alldrive - the highest degree of positional accuracy and fast machine movements are ensured on the Allrounder As by means of an electrically-driven, speed-optimised, five-point toggle system that is actuated directly via a planetary threaded spindle.
The moveable mould platen is precision-mounted to the machine base on guide elements; the drive motor is liquid-cooled.
The central lubrication for the toggle system and the drive's threaded spindle operates automatically, with lubrication intervals being calculated autonomously by the Selogica control system as a function of actual operating conditions.
The automatic mould height adjustment not only permits adaptation of the injection unit to various moulds, but also enables automatic clamping force control, which occurs autonomously according to programmed control set-point values.
* Selogica for all Allrounders - the universal Selogica control system also makes the Allrounder A convenient and reliable to operate in the customary Arburg manner.
The decisive advantages are the graphic sequence editor, the logical selective operator controls and the option of fully integrating all the peripherals.
The optional 'Selogica direct' with 15'in touchscreen, which is integrated into the exhibition machine makes data input and control of the machine and peripherals even simpler and more convenient through direct operator access.
Quick and efficient navigation is supported by tapping the corresponding element on the screen.
* About Arburg -Arburg, a German machine construction company, is one of the leading global manufacturers of injection moulding machines for plastics processing with clamping forces between 125kN and 4,000kN.
Fields of application are, for example, the production of plastics parts for motor vehicles, communications and consumer electronics, medical technology, domestic appliances and packaging.
The product range is completed by robotic systems, complex projects and other peripherals.
Arburg's operations are coordinated by an integrated management system and are DIN EN ISO 9001 and 14001 certified.
Arburg is represented in a total of 70 countries - in all the major plastics markets - with a comprehensive on-site sales and service network.
Some 1,950 employees share in Arburg's success worldwide.
Production is carried out by approximately 1,650 employees, exclusively at the parent factory in Lossburg (Germany).
A further 300 employees work at the 23 subsidiaries and representative offices.
In 2006, Arburg is celebrating '50 years of Arburg injection moulding machines' throughout the world and is presenting the 'Allrounder Golden Edition' anniversary series.
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