This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
thin wall moulding | Packaging


Engel’s iQ clamp control technology automatically adjusts applied clamp force to achieve


optimal mould breathing


pressure profi le can now be monitored with increased precision, for example, while an adjustable tolerance band allows better process control and protects the mould from overfi lling. Measured value acquisition (MVA) for process analysis and optimisation now provides a selection of user-defi ned as well as pre- defi ned screens, which facilitates data processing. Additional options with new graphs enhance the MVA’s application range. The activeFlowBalance feature balances irregular,


fl uctuating fi lling levels in multi-cavity moulds and prevents negative effects such as fl ash, under-fi lling or burning (diesel effect). This module exploits the expan- sion of the compressed plasticised material at the point of changeover from injection to holding pressure, using it to top up the fi lling levels in the partially fi lled cavities. This tried-and-tested function has been enhanced and is now said to be even easier and safer to use. The activeLock adjustable non-return valve actively


closes prior to injection, which ensures a constant closing behaviour during each cycle. Benefi ts of this module are said to include improved repeatability, fewer process fl uctuations and a lower risk of producing waste scrap.


Applied intelligence Engel is also using new machine control technologies to overcome long-standing processing challenges. It describes its iQ clamp control software package for automatically optimising clamp force as “another step towards zero-fault production.” The iQ clamp control system, fi rst seen at Fakuma


last year, automatically determines and adapts the mould clamping force for each individual application based on mould breathing. When melt is injected into the mould, it exerts a pressure that pushes the two halves of the mould apart by a few thousandths or even hundredths of a millimetre – the ‘breathing’ effect. Too much breathing (due to insuffi cient clamp force) can cause production of excessive fl ash; too little breathing can result in the diesel effect (scorching of the plastic at the end of the fl ow path due to trapped air). Clamp force can be optimised manually using a


gauge to determine the mould breathing but Engel says this is imprecise, being heavily dependent on the


20 INJECTION WORLD | January/February 2016


position of the gauge and requiring considerable experience to interpret the results. “Many injection moulders therefore work with the maximum clamping force available instead of adapting it to the process,” the company says. However, too high a clamping force may subject the mould to excessive stress, resulting in higher rates of wear and unnecessary consumption of energy.


The iQ clamp control software automatically deter- mines and adopts the optimal clamping force on an objec- tive basis (Engel claims that its CC300 control unit is the fi rst injection machine control unit capable of autono- mously determining a process-relevant target value). The software works on an inferential basis, so it


requires no extra sensors or hardware. And since the breathing gap is caused by the pressure acting in the cavity, the curve of displacement over time is very similar to the curve of average cavity pressure calcu- lated for the projected surface of the moulded part. “The clamping system including the mould is conceived of as a spring, and the stiffness of the spring is determined during clamping force build-up,” says an Engel spokesperson. During injection, the tension in the spring increases slightly due to mould breathing so that the clamping force increases minimally compared with the set value. The iQ clamp control signifi cantly reduces the risk of quality defi ciencies, ensures optimal mould ventilation, protects the mould against overfi lling and boosts energy effi ciency, Engel says. It is initially being offered for Engel injection moulding machines with electrical clamping units up to clamping forces of 2200 kN (220-tonnes).


Click on the links for more information:  www.coveris.comwww.plastisud.comwww.netstal.comwww.trexel.comwww.verstraete-iml.comwww.milacron.comwww.sonoco.comwww.arburg.comwww.sumitomo-shi-demag.euwww.engelglobal.com


www.injectionworld.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62