Turning-Stack System produces multi-component parts quickly.
Press Release Summary:
Turning-Stack System is based on rotary cube with 4 equal mold faces, arranged between platens of injection molding machine. After mold opens, pre-injected piece is held on cube and turned in steps of 90°. On 2 inactive sides of cube, other operations can be carried out simultaneous with injection process. Cube design eliminates asymmetrical forces on platens. Depending on mold size and weight, full 90° turn requires 0.4-0.8 sec.
Original Press Release:
First Time Shown in U.S.: NPE Stack-Turning Demonstration Shows How to Produce Multicomponent Parts in Record Time
March 2003 - NPE 2003 will be the first U.S. demonstration of new turning cube stack mould technology developed by Ferromatik Milacron Europe and mould maker Foboha. Ferromatik Milacron Europe will be represented on the Foboha stand in the North Hall, Level 3, Booth 4975. On display will be a K-TEC 200 S 2F-EW injection moulding machine fitted with innovative turning-stack equipment for the production of cell phone covers.
The turning-stack system is based on a rotary cube with four equal mould faces, arranged between the platens of the injection moulding machine. After the mould opens, the pre-injected piece is held on the cube and turned in steps of 90°. On the two inactive sides of the cube, other operations which would normally add to cycle time, can be carried out simultaneous with the injection process - e.g. insertion of labels, printing or extraction of finished parts. The inactive sides can also be used for cooling the pre-injected piece or the finished component, further shortening the production process.
Cube moulding technology has other advantages over the conventional turntable as well. The classic turntable, for geometric reasons, requires a larger machine with higher clamping force to produce an equal number of parts per cycle. The cube design also eliminates asymmetrical forces on the platens. Even heavy moulds (up to several tons) are easily supported by the turning system on the machine base. Depending on mould size and weight, a full 90° turn requires only 0.4 to 0.8 seconds.
Higher productivity = lower investment
Ferromatik's K-TEC multicomponent injection moulding machine is an ideal platform for the cube stack mould. K-TEC machines are designed for high injection performance and output. The K-TEC 200 S 2F-EW injection machine demonstrated at NPE has a clamping force of 2000 kN, and two injection units with international size 493 and 265.
According to Ferromatik, it takes just four cube stack mould systems to produce a whole year's requirement of 20 million cell phone front covers, while the conventional turntable process would require nine machines and twice the floor space. The reduced number of machines, alone, saves about 30% of total investment cost. The larger investment for the turning system is more than offset by the reduced number of machines required.
Turning-stack technology is cost-effective for both large and small production runs, because the system is also designed to be versatile. It allows fast and trouble-free mould changes because all supply lines are integrated in the system and do not have to be reconnected during each mould change.
To learn more about this and other plastics processing solutions from Milacron, visit the web site: plastics.milacron.com
Inquiries in the U.S. should be directed to:
Mr. Robert B. Hare
General Manager
Ferromatik Milacron Europe, USA
4165 Halfacre Rd.
Batavia, OH 45103 USA
Tel: 513-536-2000
Fax: 513-536-2441
