ENGEL's e-motion combimelt Offers Design and Cost Savings Advantages

Precision molding, multi-component technology and design flexibility are being demonstrated at NPE2009 in ENGEL’s exhibit of the all-electric e-motion injection molding machine running combimelt technology. This technology presentation is one of six equipment exhibits ENGEL is presenting in booth #S24000 at NPE2009.

Incorporating the high precision of all-electric machine technology, leadership in multi-component molding, and fully integrated automation, ENGEL’s two-component (PP/TPE), all-electric, 60 ton tiebarless ENGEL e-motion machine is the industry’s only all-electric tiebarless machine. At NPE2009 the machine is producing a single-cavity, (1+1) two-component cell phone holder.  The traditional “in-line” injection unit injects a first shot of PP, while the secondary unit, mounting in the “L” position (vertical), injects a second shot of TPE.  A fully integrated six-axis Kuka articulating robot is used for part transfer (first shot to second shot) and part removal.

“ENGEL is the industry leader in multi-component injection molding, having delivered in excess of 5,000 machines to date,” said Steve Braig, president and CEO of ENGEL North America.  “This display will also introduce molders to the unlimited cost savings and design possibilities available in all-electric machinery.”

The advantages of combimelt technology to the molder are substantial:
• New part design possibilities
• Improved economics within the manufacturing process as secondary operations are eliminated
• Improved part quality (less contamination possibilities) due to a “one step” process
In addition to design and manufacturing advantages are the specific benefits of the e-motion machine:
• Servo motor drive technology offers extraordinary precision with low energy consumption
• All-electric design provides the highest possible part repeatability
• Tiebarless design offers freely accessible mold space for minimum re-tooling times (even for bulky molds) and easy automation

The machine
ENGEL’s all-electric e-motion machine line includes multi-component (ENGEL combimelt) machine configurations as standard.  The ENGEL e-motion combi series includes six clamp sizes – from 60 to 310 US tons – which can be combined in the following standard secondary injection arrangements:
>> “L” with the second injection unit mounted horizontally, at a 90º angle to the standard unit
 >> “V” with the second unit arranged vertically above the standard unit and mounted on a moving carriage
 >> “W” with second injection unit in ‘piggyback’ configuration above the standard injection unit

Highlighting the ENGEL e-motion combi is the availability of integrated servo-driven high-speed rotary tables (for example, a 600mm diameter table requiring 0.5 seconds for 180º of rotation).  This table is one of the standard modular components of the combimelt system.