Plastic meets microtechnology

In the recent Fakuma a small machine grasped my attention. This very compact injection machine is actually dedicated to microtechnology and realize parts with one or two components between 10 and 400 mg. Indeed that’s not an usual way to characterize parts in “classical microtechnology” were we do parts doing chips. Nevertheless this machine can produce true microtechnology parts in many different material (including CIM, PIM and MIM).

The formica Plast range comprises two machines, the 1K for smallest shot weights (10-200 mg) and the 2K for micro-injection with two components  (10-400 mg).

High precision for smallest shot weights is due to

• two-step plunger injection unit
• comfortable visualization
• precise control
• toggle clamp system
• standardized mould changing
• high dynamic servo-electric injection unit

The machines can be complemented with optional features like handling and quality insurance systems, video and clean room modules.

Micro injected parts? Can be found everywhere!
Micro moulded parts are produced in a safe and stable process. Technically demanding parts may be produced without manual or complex automated handling: multi-component systems are produced within the mould. formicaPlast 2K is of interest for many industrial branches including medicine, IT applications, telecommunications, automation, sensor and automobile technologies.
Applications include accelerating and pressure sensors, micro pumps for analytical purposes, components and component groups for hearing aids and acoustics, cogs and clutches or optical lenses.

For more information contact
DESMA TEC

Marten Beiersdorf – Sales Manager
Tel.: +49-4202-990 383
Fax.: +49-4202-990 210
m.beiersdorf@desma.de
www.desma-tec.de/en

Looking for the oldest Allrounder still in operation

“50 years of Allrounder” will be celebrated in style at the Fakuma 2011.The trade-fair appearance in Friedrichshafen constitutes the highlight of this year’s anniversary. Therefore Arburg has come up with something very special: the great “Economic Miracle” anniversary competition.

Arburg is looking for the oldest Allrounder that is still being used in production. The winner will receive an electric Allrounder 370 E – in order to continue the success story.

The success story of the Allrounder injection moulding machines spanning five decades is a veritable economic miracle – for customers, for the market and of course for Arburg. In 1961, the invention of the Allrounder principle revolutionised conventional ideas regarding injection moulding. For the first time, production was possible in different working positions using a pivoting clamping unit and interchangeable injection unit. New, modern application processes were thus made possible.

“Economic miracle”
Such old Allrounders with pivoting clamping unit and interchangeable injection unit, in other words real “allrounders”, are now being sought within the context of the “Economic Miracle” anniversary competition. Participation is clearly worthwhile: The winner will receive an electric Allrounder 370 E from the Edrive series, which Arburg has introduced into the electric machine range this year. Decisive prerequisites for participation in the anniversary competition are that the customer or company is the original owner of the Allrounder entered and the machine must still be in use in production today. Predecessor machines of the Allrounder will not be accepted.

Big prize at the last day of Fakuma
Because the anniversary competition is a Fakuma activity, it will close together with the trade fair on Saturday 22 October 2011, at 4 p.m. Up to this point in time, entries can be sent to the Arburg headquarters in Lossburg or handed in at trade fair stand 3101 in Hall A3.The entry forms can be downloaded from the website “www.arburg.com” and are also available at the Arburg trade fair stand. Following the Fakuma, the winner will be announced and presented to the public. The judges’ decision is final.

Arburg GmbH + Co KG
Postfach 1109
72286 Lossburg, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 7446 33-0
Fax: +49 (0) 7446 33-3365
contact@arburg.com
www.arburg.com

World First: Round Fine Centering System for the Mold Construction

Play free Round Fine Centering system for centering the mold halves – a superior alternative to the conventional guide blocks (state-of-the-art).The latest product innovation by AGATHON AG is the standardized Round Fine Centering available from stock, made from roller bearing steel – patent pending. As a world first, AGATHON has developed a standardized Round Fine Centering system of innovative design over the past months which has successfully been tested at reference customers.

In green, open position of the mold and closed position in red.

The demands made on molds as regards Accuracy, use without lubricant and free from wear are high and constantly rising – especially the centering of the mold halves is subject to such criteria.
By means of a preloaded play free fine centering, maximum precision may be achieved – the mold halves are closed without play, unnecessary burr formation/offset at the injection-molded part are avoided. When opening the mold, the injection-molded part is gently removed from the mold without damage.

Wear-free needed
The requirement made on a low-wear (wear-free) centering can be realized using a round roller centering. Thanks to the precise axial positioning of the roller cage, almost two rows of rollers are simultaneously engaged in the preload at the centering start – this guarantees a high initial load capacity and a long cycle life without noticeable wear. The initial load capacity with two rows of rollers engaged is equivalent to that of approx. 16 rows of balls.
The round centering may be used with minimum quantity lubrication. Even without lubricant, e.g. for production in clean room environments.

Quality of the parts rely on quality of the mold
Due to these characteristics, the Round Fine Centering is perfectly suited for mass production and/or mold tools which must be closed with high precision.
Complex technical plastic parts (e.g. thin-walled injection molding) and also clean room production – to name just a few – are leading to ever higher demands being made on the tools.
Depending on the application and space available, two or more fine centering units may be used. The design engineer is free to choose the arrangement and number of centering units to be used.

Customer benefits of the Round Fine Centering System Standard 7990

• Low total cost, low manufacturing cost of the cylindrical location bore
• High design freedom, play free, for short cycle times
• No noticeable wear & tear: can e.g. be used in clean rooms
• Little to no maintenance, use with minimum quantity lubrication
• Thanks to the precise axial positioning of the roller cage, almost two rows of rollers are simultaneously engaged in the preload at the centering start – this guarantees a high initial load capacity and a long cycle life. The initial load capacity with two rows of rollers engaged is equivalent to that of approx. 16 rows of balls.

AGATHON AG, Normalien
Postfach, 4512 Bellach/Switzerland
Phone +41 (0)32 617 4502
Fax +41 (0)32 617 4701
normalien@agathon.ch
www.agathon.com

Rotary Table Technology with Large Diameters in Best Form

Braunform is focusing on the current trend in tool and die technology for the K2010, concentrating primarily on tools for medical and multi-component technology. Braunform will be displaying a 32+32 rotary mould with a rotary table. Because of its slim design, the robust and fast rotary tables from the series 540 to the series 1400 (turning plate diameter 500mm to 1,360 mm) in accordance with EUROMAP, are going to be a highlight at the booth of the company out of Bahlingen.  As a pioneer of multi-component technology, Braunform is one of the few suppliers offering upper-class rotary tables with diameters between 900 mm and 1,400 mm.

„Thin“ constructional depth: 900mm rotary table from Braunform

Braunform has been engaged in this technology since 1990. Eckard Herb, Managing Director of Braunform has been observing this trend towards larger rotary tables for a while: „Increasingly complex geometries as well multi-cavity strategies demand increasingly larger rotary tables. They need to be compact as well as fast. What counts most in practice, however, is a robust and flexible rotary table.“ Braunform has an extensive program, including the „Titans“ among rotary tables offering products up to 1,400mm diameters (turning plate diameter 1,360 mm).

Advantages in Detail
Despite extreme dynamic forces, rotary tables from Bahlingen stand out because of their steadfast robustness. The root of this robustness is in the covered rotary plate which guarantees high lifetime cycles. The flexibility of the design offers the user a variety of advantages in daily operations and allows for fast and efficient solutions in multi-component technology. Connections on the front side provide for optimal water supply, guaranteeing efficient coolant circulation for short cycle times. Direct transmission to the tool is also an option which can be realized. Setting up moulds on rotary tables from Braunform is done without adaptors. This enables the user to change moulds quickly and efficiently. However, the newest generation of rotary tables from Braunform doesn’t only stand for efficient change-over times. The rotary tables are very flat. They stand out because of what their shallow depths allow for: shorter parting distances when opening the mould saves on cycle time and there is also more room for complex moulds. A variety of special options round up the program. Rotary tables of the series 540 to the series 1400 are offered as a Basic Line or Premium Line at a maximum tool weight ranging from 450 to 4,000 kg.

K2010: Braunform displays 900 mm multi-cavity rotary table with TPE/PS parts
Braunform is going to display a 900 mm rotary table out of its middle-sized assortment at the K2010. The 900 mm rotary table will be fitted with the mould half of a 32+32 multi-cavity mould (32+32 cavity SGW for Regular Head Guard). In the mould, a customer of Braunform will produce a 2 component TPE/PS-combined razor part with a part weight of 0,83 g/part. According to Braunform, this rotary table is suitable for machines with clamping forces of 2.500 to 2.750 kN with a turning rate of 1,5 sec during continuous operation.

Braunform at the K2010: Hall 1 Booth F30

Braunform GmbH
Kunststoff- und Pharmatechnik
Unter Gereuth 7 + 14
D-79353 Bahlingen
Germany
Phone +49 (0) 7663 / 9320-108
Fax +49 (0) 7663 / 9320-139
info@braunform.com
www.braunform.com