Page 56 - Plastics News June 2018

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HRS FLEX flow technology Sodick shows off its 'one process

hollow handle for a chainsaw, manufactured by machine'
A gas-assisted injection molding, is one of the latest
examples of the use of HRSflow's innovative FLEXflow Sodick Inc. showed its 3D metal printer at NPE2018,
technology. This servo-electric programmable valve a product it calls its "one process machine" (OPM) can
gate solution for hot runner systems allows precision can do both 3D printing and high-speed milling to
control and monitoring of the melt flow during filling create finished molds and mold inserts.The OPM allows
of the mold cavity. for greater precision and complexity than print-only
systems. The printer uses the laser sintering process,
building up layer-by-layer. "It'll lay down a very thin
layer of powdered metal," said Tom Hipp, national
manager of Sodick's high-speed mill business at the
company in Schaumburg,Illinois. The milling takes
place after every 10 passes by the laser. Hipp said the
all-in-one process reduces the time it takes to make
a mold. Sodick also is aiming the 3D metal printer at
conformal cooling molds where the cooling channels
follow the contours of the molded part.

The lightweight yet very stable handle ismade of a highly
impact-resistant, easy-flow PA6-GF30 %. The mold is
provided with two hot runner needle valve nozzles of
the MA series from HRSflow with a conical seal. They are
designed for medium shot weights and optimized for the
polymer used in this particular application. While the
melt is being injected through these two nozzles, the
servo-electric drive of the valve pins – the big feature of
the FLEXflow technology – makes it possible to control the
stroke, velocity and force independently of one another The Sodick Motion Controller accurately controls the
for each individual pin during the opening and closing high-speed and precise linear motor drive movements
phases. This ensures an optimum mold-filling process. through commands from the NC unit. The Sodick Motion

With the gas-assisted injection molding technology, Controller was heavily researched and developed to
nitrogen is subsequently injected under high pressure bring about new technical innovations to machining
into the injected melt, which is consequently pushed accuracy. Developed in Silicon Valley, CA, the Sodick
against the cavity wall. Through combination with the Motion Controller accurately controls high-speeds,
FLEXflow hot runner technology, the formation of flow rapid acceleration and precise positioning.odick's
marks and other surface defects that can otherwise occur OPM250L features the same rigid linear motors that
have made our EDMs some of the most reliable machines
when processing glass fiber-reinforced thermoplasticscan on the market today. With 1G axis acceleration, and
be reliably avoided. The result is aninjection-molded no friction, wear, or backlash, the rigid linear motor
part that is hollow and thus lightweight, and has good continues to be the most advanced drive system on
shrinkresistance and lowwarpage. It also boastshigh the market.
flexural strength and a streak-free Class A surface.

Plastics News June 2018 56