DOWNSTREAM EQUIPMENT | MACHINERY
Once parts like profiles have been extruded, they often need some degree of post- processing – such as cutting or punching – in order to produce the final product
Making the cut: latest in downstream equipment
It may sound like a report from Fight Club, but some of the latest developments in downstream equipment are in cutting, stamping and punching. UK-based Boston Matthews, for instance, has
introduced a new extrusion line designed specifi- cally for making polystyrene (PS) pipette tubes – which features a downstream cutting unit that it says eliminates swarf generation. “Polystyrene is a tricky material to cut without causing shattering or damage,” said Simon Brookes, sales director at Boston Matthews. “It is essential that the tubes are accurately cut to tolerance without imperfections or swarf, as they are subjected to several completely automated post-extrusion processes.” The tube cutter was designed using 3D paramet- ric design software. The ability to synchronise to the line speed means that tubes can be cut accurately and consistently to close tolerances without mark- ing, shattering, or producing any swarf. The swarf- less cutting technology not only provides a cleaner production environment but greatly reduces
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operational costs through a significant reduction in scrap material levels, says the company. “This represents a significant development in the
cutting of polystyrene tubes and provides pipette manufacturers with an effective solution to what has been a major production issue for a long time,” said Brookes. “Our development in cutting technology has allowed us to achieve this and ultimately increase the production capacity of pipette manufacturers.” The line makes pipette tubes in a range of sizes, typically ranging from capacities of 1-25ml. Tooling is easy to change, which reduces the time to change from one tube size/specification to another. All tubes are manufactured and cut to length in-line, with an output at up to 30 tubes per minute. This output equates to 60 formed pipettes per minute for some sizes.
No-mess cutting Sica says it has developed a cutting and chamfer- ing system that overcomes the problems of dust and chips that normally affect the process. The TRS
September 2018 | PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION 29
Main image: Boston Matthews says its extrusion line to make polystyrene pipette tubes has a down- stream cutting unit that generates no swarf
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