Brown Machine Announces New Corner Guided Form Station
Beaverton, MI - Brown Machine LLC announces an advanced corner guided form
station available within their standard CS- and SRS-Series Thermoformers. This station design
moves the guiding of the upper and lower platens to the four corners as opposed to on center
directly inline with the toggles. The station is also available with an independent roller screw
actuated 3rd motion plug platen (patent pending). This station is a result of discussions with
customers asking for a corner guided form station on standard tonnage form stations without
having to upgrade to the heavy duty designs. Corner guided form stations are operating in
production with both traditional bottom platen plug movement and 3rd motion plug actuation.
The form station is constructed as an individual frame structure using solid upper and
lower heads with 1.50" slab side plates to minimize deflection. The station has independently
driven top and bottom platens. Each platen has two (2) mechanical toggle assemblies which
are driven through a shaft by a Yaskawa servo motor and Sew gearbox. The platens are
designed and constructed for minimal deflection and are guided by a total of sixteen (16) high
precision linear bearings, with two (2) bearings positioned on each corner of the platens for
superior accuracy, repeatability and reliability. The eight (8) linear rails are mounted on 6" wide
x 4" thick steel bosses that are welded to the slab side plates and then precision machined to
provide unmatched structural rigidity and precision. Needle bearings are utilized throughout the
station for less friction, easier movement and longer life.
As with all CS and SRS Series form stations, standard features found in this design are:
1) the platens are designed to accept optional quick tool change cylinders, 2) balance cylinders
are used on both platens to equalize the weight of the platen and tool, and 3) electric
motorized shut height adjust on the top platen provides close dimension adjustability of +/-
.125" (+/- 3.175mm).
Platen stroke changes are made through the Series 4.0 Open Architecture Non-
Proprietary Control System Human Machine Interface (standard on all CS and SRS Series
equipment) eliminating all mechanical adjustments. Adjustments can be made while the form
station is in operation.
Form Station Solutions
Form station selection now includes the standard center guided platens and the new
corner guided platens, both with two powerful toggles per platen for actuation, or the heavy
duty corner guided station with four toggles per platen. Add the patent-pending independent
roller screw actuated 3rd motion plug platen, or six (6) point platen die set style guiding of the
top and bottom platens, and Brown provides the largest selection of form station solutions to
meet your requirements.
Brown Machine at NPE 2006
Brown Machine will be exhibiting at NPE 2006 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, June
19-23, 2006 at booth #S1409 and can answer your questions regarding form station
technology and the configuration that meets your process requirement.
On Brown Machine LLC
As a global leader of thermoforming technologies, Brown Machine LLC engineers and
builds a complete standard line of continuous and cut-sheet thermoforming equipment and
related tooling/peripheral equipment. Specialty thermoforming systems suited to a wide range
of markets (including automotive, recreational, packaging, appliance and various other
industrial segments) can be custom built to exact customer specifications. Brown Machine
fully supports the thermoforming industry (Brown machine owners and competitive models, as
well) with a full complement of 24/7/365 on-call service and parts support.
For more information contact Brown Machine, 330 North Ross Street, Beaverton, MI
48612, Phone: 989-435-7741, fax: 989-435-2821, www.brown-machine.com.
