Automation | technology
pyrometer monitoring is used to individually control the heaters. The foil is heated in the mould, which allows an immediate deep drawing process to be used. This minimises thermal losses and ensures optimal grain transfer. On completion of the deep drawing process, the gripper is retracted so the machine can clamp the mould, simultaneously punching the foil. The next step in the process is to back inject the
pre-formed surface foil with a polypropylene grade optimised for automotive interiors. Trexel’s MuCell foaming process is used for this. Engel says physical foaming significantly decreases weight, while at the same time reducing warpage of the part. The Trexel T350 gas supply unit is integrated with the injection moulding machine’s CC300 control unit to centrally manage the entire process. The system automatically calculates the important process parameters, such as gas injection time, on the basis of the known shot weight, the screw position, the screw’s peripheral, and a defined gas content. Recent automation developments at German injection machinery maker Arburg included a turnkey system built around its new and largest ever Allrounder moulding machine – the 1120 H with clamping force of 650 tonnes. The automation cell combines linear and six-axis robots and was developed as a show demon- stration which produces fully assembled folding step stools in a single operation. The two robots work hand-in-hand, the company says. The six-axis robot communicates directly with the company’s own Multilift V 40 linear robot, which is connected to the moulding machine’s Gestica machine control system (Gestica is Arburg’s latest machine control). The Multilift V 40 is a new addition to Arburg’s robot
range. It offers a load-bearing capacity of 40kg and is designed for use on larger Allrounder moulding machines. In the demonstration cell, the robot V 40 was
configured with X, Y and Z strokes of 1.2, 2.5 and 4.0m. It removes eight polypropylene parts from the family mould and places them on a rotary transfer table, where the two halves of the step stool are pre-assem- bled from four parts each. They are then transferred to a six-axis robot that adds anti-slip stoppers to the feet and positions the two halves one above the other in the integrated assembly station. Following final press-fit assembly, the fully assembled 1,092g step stool is placed on a conveyor belt, open and is ready for use. Arburg has also been involved in an assembly project within the injection moulding cycle for LSR wristwatch- es. The turnkey system is built around an al-electric two-component Allrounder 570 A machine, which produces two-colour LSR wrist bands in a cycle time of 75s. During the injection moulding cycle, two previous- ly-produced wrist straps are finished in the integrated assembly station to produce ready-to-use watches. Handling is performed by a linear Multilift V 15
robotic system, which removes the moulded parts and sets them down in a cooling station. From there, the robot turns the wrist straps over in an assembly station. The watch housings are supplied in the correct position on interchangeable trays and the buckles are provided by means of a conveyor system. A spreading system widens the silicone opening on the wrist strap with four fingers, enabling the robotic system to insert the housing. The Selogica control system regulates and monitors all processes. Germany’s KraussMaffei recently introduced the LRX 50, LRX 100 and LRX 150 linear robots, which it says have been designed to deliver an optimised mix of availability, precision and productivity. New features allow secondary process times – and consequently entire cycle times – to be considerably reduced, the company claims. The robots can be used with injection moulding machines from 35 to 650 tonnes. KraussMaffei says the design features a decentral-
www.injectionworld.com
Above:
KraussMaffei’s LRX robots are designed to provide
precision and
reliability with minimal
running costs
Left: Designed for integration with its largest machines, Arburg’s new Multilift V 40 provides a load-bearing capacity of 40kg
May/June 2017 | INJECTION WORLD 37
PHOTO: ARBURG
PHOTO: KRAUSSMAFFEI
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