ENGEL is introducing a new member of the iQ product family at K 2022. The new smart assistant for nominal values goes by the name of iQ hold control and automatically determines the optimum holding pressure time to help process technicians achieve massive time savings.
ENGEL
ENGEL to introduce new iQ product at K 2022
The holding pressure time is one of the quality-driving parameters in the injection moulding process. This is why it is individually configured after mould set-up and typically determined empirically. Determining what is known as the sealing point not only takes a lot of time, it also consumes a lot of raw material since several parts first need to be moulded and analysed in the quality control lab. The new holding pressure assistant by ENGEL removes the need for production personnel to make this effort, saving both time and raw materials.
The basis for automatically calculating the holding pressure time is mould breathing on the one hand, and the plasticising screw position on the other. iQ hold control analyses both process values and suggests the optimum holding pressure time via the CC300 injection moulding machine control after just a few cycles. Once the set-up technician has confirmed the value, production can immediately begin.
The holding pressure time is determined objectively, meaning that even less experienced process technicians can adjust the process parameters at the push of a button in case of a batch change. Further efficiency gains can result from the automatically determined optimum holding pressure time being lower than the holding pressure time set initially. In these cases, the cycle time is reduced. And the energy requirement decreases.
Visitors to the K show 2022 can experience the new iQ hold control in action at the ENGEL booth, where connectors for vehicle electronics will be produced on an all-electric e-mac injection moulding machine. The smart assistance systems can be activated and deactivated individually to allow visitors to the show to experience the feature live.
ENGEL is offering all iQ systems, including the new iQ hold control, as trial versions with immediate effect. Various packages are available, including – for example – webinars and in-house training, process engineering consultancy and tests at the ENGEL technology centre.
Injection moulding technology from a single source
ENGEL will also establish its new records in plant footprint and energy consumption at K 2022, where a minimal footprint, all-electric, high-performance e-motion 160 combi M injection moulding machine will make its debut and produce sample vessels for medical diagnostics in two-component injection moulding under cleanroom conditions.
ENGEL
ENGEL's extremely compact combi M technology substantially reduce the space required for the production cell.
The primary parts with cylindrical cavities are injected using a PC material dyed in black. The indexing table then rotates 180 degrees to seal the cylinders with transparent PC on one side with lenticular covers in a second injection moulding step. Simultraneously, the next set of primary parts will be produced on the other side. The two moulds, with 32 cavities each, come from Hack Formenbau in Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany.
As a system solution provider, ENGEL looks to ensure in the scope of process digitalisation that the control units of external systems, such as the mould or peripheral units, can be integrated with the central CC300 control panel on the injection moulding machine. For example, the HACK moldlife sense software is integrated with the CC300 machine control unit with the help of Webviewer technology. HACK moldlife sense detects errors and irregularities in the mould and automatically notifies the machine operator before rejects and high costs occur.
The combi M's horizontal indexing table technology saves valuable floor space, especially where multiple-cavity moulds are used. A comparable 32-cavity mould with a vertical rotary table would require a larger e-motion injection moulding machine with at least 280 tonnes clamp force. In this application, the horizontal indexing table technology reduces the injection moulding machine's footprint by more than 20 per cent.
An ENGEL viper 20 linear robot will be removing the two-component parts and depositing them in trays. Finally, an ENGEL e pic pick-and-place robot is covering the fully populated trays with an intermediate layer to be able to stack them in boxes and then discharge them via a tray server, which is also integrated.