Innovation | automation Engel claims that this level of integration signifi-
cantly improves efficiency in the manufacturing of multi-component hollow bodies with inlays and will revolutionise not only manufacturing practices in the medical engineering sector but also, for example, the production of automotive fuel filters. Conventionally, the two hollow body components are individually injection moulded; the inlay is then fitted and bonded in subse- quent process steps. One of the attractions of integrated production is that
Above: In this insert moulding application, the Scara robot (at rear) places the pins leaving the larger multi- axis robot to tend the mould
delivered its 1,000th Viper beam robot last year and has
made invested €4m in its automation factories at Dietach in Austria and Hagen in German over the past two years. The company now claims that it accounts for around half of all of the automated plastics moulding cells supplied from European injection machinery manufacturers. During the K fair it will show numerous examples of
high level plastics automation, including demonstration with its partner ZF-Friedrichshafen of single-step production of a geometrically optimised and stress- resistant automotive plastic brake pedal manufactured in polyamide overmoulded organic composite sheet. The process will run on a vertical Engel insert 1050H/200 injection moulding machine with an Easix multi-axis industrial robot that is integrated into the main machine control. The integration of robot and machine control allows
Right: An ABB multi-axis robot in a
typical part
removal and tray loading application
the robot movement to be safely and simply synchro- nised with the platen. This is a particular benefit in this application, which requires handling and placement of a pre-heated insert that must not be allowed to cool to much in advance of the forming step. The company will also show an example of an Easix
robot in an integrated cell for single-step production of a tri-component drip chamber with filter. Intended for blood transfusion applications, the drip chambers will be produced using an Engel e-victory 310H/80W/50V 160 combi tri-component injection moulding machine. Each chamber comprises an ABS and TPE component injection moulded in a single work step; the filter is mounted and joined by means of overmoulding with polypropylene. The indexing mould is supplied by Hack of Germany and an Easix robot is integrated in the cell along with a system for total quality control, allowing drip chambers to be inspected for seal tightness immediately after moulding.
www.injectionworld.com July/August 2013 | INJECTION WORLD 25
it can significantly reduce the total amount of floor space required to make a part or product. Waldorf Technik says it has also been thinking along those lines in the area of in-mould labelling, claiming that its new Swing Line is the world’s smallest side entry IML robot. The Swing Line side-removal-robot is suitable for packaging and thin wall applications where floor space is particularly important. It is suitable for operation with single-face moulds of moderate cavitation and is aimed at lower volume applications. According to Waldorf Tecknik, the design can be easily adapted to a wide variety of smaller clamp force machines. Meanwhile, CBW Automation says the compact
footprint of its Telescoping Side-Entry (TSE-500) robot helps moulders optimise floor space in a way that other side-entry robots cannot. “We developed this product to adapt our automation to the requirements of the industry,” says Dave Carson, president of CBW Automation. “In the US market we’re seeing demand for larger, higher-cavitation moulds, which require exponentially larger robots. “ He says many of CBW Automation’s customers want the advantages of a side-entry robot while at the same
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