Page 53 - Plastics news December 2023

TECHNOLOGY

gether with its faster heater-bank re-
sponse allow for greater precision and
efficiency throughout the production
process, resulting in higher-quality
products.
The thermoformer is equipped with
an updated, faster Pick & Place Inline.
This is a dual-stacking system that
enables an existing up-stacking tool
to be used. The Up-stacker now has
an improved pusher servo-drive. The
ejector and A/B-ejector drive with
servo-motors can also be specified.
More customizable stacking solutions
stations. This improved capability The machine is also furnished with are also available.
leads to a higher production speed, servomotor drives for tables, plug as-
allowing up to 45 cycles/minute and sist, film transport, and the stacking
resulting in higher output. pusher. This advanced technology to-

KraussMaffei Bundles 3D Printing and Surface Finishing Services

Maffei milling equipment is highly dy-
namic, tailored to achieve fast cutting
speeds and production times by using
extremely sharp tools and optimizing
chip removal. This specialized equip-
ment produces “mirror-smooth”
edge finishes up to RZ 12, a measure
of surface smoothness. Even more
smoothness can be achieved by ex-
tending processing time, according to
the company.

KraussMaffei’s holistic 3D-printing
approach is a partnership across the
company’s business units. When ad-
ditive manufacturing project engineer
raussMaffei is offering end-to-end up to 400°C. The printer can process Ender Murat Ferat was asked about
K3D-printing products and ser- a range of materials including ABS, this service, he reached out to his
vices that couple its powerPrint large- PA6, PETG, PLA, ASA, TPU, and PP. toolmaking colleagues in the compa-
format printer with post-process mill- Customers can either purchase these ny’s facility in Harderberg, Germany.
ing tailored to the unique needs of printers or use the company’s print-
additively manufactured plastics. on-demand service. “We initially tried working with ex-
ternal milling companies, but working
Components measuring up to 2 x After the initial print, milling plas- in-house is of course much more ef-
2.5 x 2 meters can be produced in tics requires machines different than ficient — and you also retain the ex-
the powerPrint, an extruder-based those used for metal components. pertise,” he said.
system with a nozzle range between Plastics milling is a simpler process
2 and 20 mm and print temperature that removes more material. Krauss- The Harderberg team had been mill-
ing plastic — mostly Ureol (polyu-

PLASTICS NEWS 5353
December 2023 PLASTICS NEWS