Latest control systems give molders precise capabilities
Precise control of hot-runner systems and components is essential for molding high-quality parts. Industry suppliers are boosting capabilities with improved components and Industry 4.0 functionality.
SYNVENTIVE MOLDING SOLUTIONS
EGate opens and closes valve positions to within 0.01mm. The company said that benefits include optimized flow in multicavity molds, energy efficiency, elimination of surface defects and consistency and repeatability across production runs.
Synventive developed the system for small parts. This month, the company is adding eGate 2.0 for large parts, said Bill Rousseau, director of applications and technical services. In addition to its control features, it will have “the smallest electric motor on the market for large applications,” he said, without revealing specific details ahead of the launch.
The eGate 2.0 electric motors are cooled with water and include a thermal switch to eliminate overheating. The motor assemblies bolt to the manifold, creating a single-piece drop-in system, which reduces installation time and eliminates critical machining, Rousseau said. “This is opening up applications that were previously impossible with conventional hot-runner systems and allowing molders to produce parts with superb cosmetics at very low scrap rates,” he noted.
HASCO
Hasco’s new H1280 series of hot-runner controllers includes three tabletop models that control from six to 36 zones.
Features include an integrated-help button that shows all controller functions, eliminating the need to search for them. A troubleshooting- agent button quickly identifies any malfunctions and explains how to fix them. Sensors detect excess voltage and rapidly switch off the affected zone to prevent quality problems. Additionally, each controller can detect a short circuit before it occurs in a zone fuse. The zone fuses are on the outside of the unit and can be swiftly replaced.
The H1280 controllers have integrated Ethernet, RS485, CAN and USB communication interfaces and can be equipped with the OPC-UA machine-to-machine communication protocol for Industry 4.0 and data exchange on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
MORE SUPPLIERS
Three other suppliers also offered glimpses of enhanced control capabilities.
This year, Mold-Masters plans to launch a new version of its SVG (sequential-valve-gate) controller, called the SVG12C, which will be about half the size of the current model.
Husky has no plans for new controls this year but is adding support for OPC-UA to meet Euromap standards. “Our Altanium Mold Controller product line will have the foundation for Industry 4.0 compliance and future IIoT capabilities,” said Sean Hoy, VP for hot runners in the Americas.
Pat Toensmeier, contributor
Contact:
Hasco America Inc.,
Fletcher, N.C., 828-650-2600, www.hasco.com
Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.,
Bolton, Ontario, 905-951-5000, www.husky.ca
LHR Technical Service, Sandwich, Ill., 630-802-7755,
Mold-Masters Ltd.,
Georgetown, Ontario, 905-877-0185, www.moldmasters.com
Synventive Molding Solutions,
Peabody, Mass., 978-750-8065, www.synventive.com