Automatic Laboratory Press for Compression Molding of Rubber Comprehensive Moulding Cycle Management
Press Control Operations:
The press's PLC controller is equipped with an intuitive Touch Screen Display that enables flexible customization of molding cycles through the configuration of:
- Travel movements of the press's moving platen
- Thermal cycle parameters (including adjustable platen temperatures and thermal gradients within each cycle)
- Pressure cycle specifics (when equipped with the force control option) It has the capacity to store up to 40 distinct molding cycles, each comprising up to 30 individual molding steps.
Press Control Software:
Ensuring Complete Sample Preparation Traceability
The press's control PLC can establish a connection (via USB) with the Press Control software.
This software empowers you to:
- Compile a roster of products slated for molding
- Transmit preset temperature settings to the press's PLC for the intended product, triggering its automatic adjustment
- Dispatch the requisite test cycle instructions to the press's PLC for the designated product
- Showcase temperature trend curves of the platens and, if applicable, the closing force (when the option is installed) during the molding cycle's execution
- Archive curves and numeric data in the SQL database to uphold thorough traceability of the specimen preparation cycle The Press Control software is seamlessly compatible with Windows 10 and 11 platforms.
Closure Force Regulation:
The Digital Pressure Regulation system is tailored for scenarios demanding precise management of closure force.
To guarantee meticulous pressure control, a dedicated two-stage hydraulic circuit has been devised, incorporating proportional regulation valves and a perpetually fine-tuning pumping mechanism.
The outcome is a seamless and consistent force regulation capability that facilitates adjustment of closure force ranging from 10 kN to 250 kN, with increments of 10 N per set force adjustment step. The regulation fluctuations remain below 1000 N.
Controlling the closing force is executed through the Automatic Press Control, a necessity for operating in tandem with the Closure Force Control option. The Automatic Press Control apparatus empowers users to designate multiple pressure regulation stages throughout the molding cycle.
Precise Temperature Management
Platen Temperature Control:
The heating process for the press surfaces is executed using specially designed flat heating elements, meticulously tailored to conform to the stipulations of the ISO 2393 standard, which permits a maximal deviation of ± 0.5°C across the platen surface.
The temperature calibration is meticulously executed through a stringent control protocol, involving the assessment of 10 distinct points dispersed within the molding region.
With a power output of 3.5 kW, the heating elements enable the configuration of platen heating gradients of up to 15°C per minute.
Please note: The highest achievable speed is contingent on the thermal mass of the mold and the material intended for molding.
Water-Based Cooling System:
The cooling process for the press platens is a vital component of the molding cycle, particularly when dealing with thermoplastic materials. Cooling is imperative to lower the material temperature to the point of solidification before the mold can be opened.
Presses can be outfitted with an efficient cooling mechanism, enabling controlled reduction of platen temperatures at a speed that can reach as low as -50°C per minute.
This cooling setup entails a dedicated circuit that interfaces with a demineralized water supply or a chiller, ensuring optimal performance.
Within the testing cycle, the cooling rate is programmable and managed independently across the two axes of the press, facilitated by the control PID mechanism.
Compressed Air Cooling System:
Presses offer the option of incorporating a cooling mechanism utilizing compressed air, enabling controlled reduction of platen temperatures at a rate that can reach as low as -3°C per minute.
This feature facilitates accelerated temperature regulation during molding tasks that involve varying temperatures.
Within the testing cycle, the cooling rate can be programmed and is autonomously adjusted by the control PID mechanism, operating independently along the two axes of the press.
