Revamped servo-hydraulic press packs new features
Chen Hsong, Hong Kong, introduced the latest generation of its Jetmaster Mark 6 servo-hydraulic toggle injection molding machine, known as the JM MK6, at NPE2018.
The JM MK6 is based on the company's well-known Jetmaster SVP2 series but incorporates several features that have been redesigned to deliver better performance and greater efficiency, Eastern region manager Jim Schmitz said. It is designed for the North American market.
The JM MK6's injection unit has a redesigned and patented screw and barrel. The machine has a redesigned platen with a patented circular design that provides greater rigidity and minimizes deformation by distributing stresses uniformly through the platens during molding, Schmitz said. The toggle mechanism also is more robust.
In addition, the new model incorporates high-performance servo motors that power an optimized hydraulic drive system featuring components from Bosch Rexroth, Yuken Kogyo and other suppliers. The servo motor and gear pump reduce energy use by 80 percent compared to a fixed-displacement pump system, he said.
The model incorporates new proprietary servo-pressure-regulation technology exclusive to the MK6 line. The technology matches the high-speed intelligent computer controller with a specialized feedback loop from the servo-control system that drives a relief valve to ensure fast release of hydraulic pressure. Conventional technology regulates pressure by reversing the pump for brief periods. However, this can create wear that can degrade the performance of the pump, he said.
In a dry-cycle comparison, a JM MK6 with 160 tons of clamping force ran faster with shorter cycle times than a competing model of the same size. The JM MK6 had a closing time of 1.1 seconds and a mold opening time of 0.9 second, for a total dry cycle time of 2 seconds. The competing 160-ton machine had a dry cycle time of 3.35 seconds. The JM MK6 reduced cycle times by 37.3 percent, Schmitz said.
The machine also incorporates a new, low-pressure mold-protection system that uses high-precision linear potentiometers combined with algorithms to sense obstacles as thin as 0.1mm in between closing mold halves. The unit also features fully automatic adjustment of mold height and clamping force. A user enters the desired position value into the controller and an algorithm makes the adjustment, in as little as 15 seconds.
The company, which is represented in the U.S. and Canada by CH America, offers 10 models of the JM MK6, with clamping forces ranging from 88 tons to 668 tons. Three standard screw and barrel combinations are available for each model, and the machine can be configured with different-sized injection units for additional flexibility.
The JM MK6 features the SmartMold 88 controller from B&R Industrial Automation GmbH, Eggelsberg, Austria. It has a 10.4-inch, high-resolution color display. The controller monitors all aspects of the machine in fast scan times.
Mikell Knights, senior staff reporter
Contact:
CH America Torrington, Conn., 860-840-7070,
