AQUAMOULD Aquamould SMS Plastics Technology Injection Molding Technology
Aquamould The water injection process Water injection techno- Battenfeld and adapted mold which offers the Reduced shrinkage of logy was developed by for series production. following advantages: the molded articles the German institute for This was the launch of Short cycle times due Good wall-thickness plastics processing IKV the Aquamould pro- to direct cooling of distribution even for which is situated in cess. The technique the melt thick-walled parts Aachen. The research involves the direct injec- Weight reduction due Smooth surfaces insi- results of the IKV were tion of water into the to hollow sections de the molding further developed by Suitable for long flow paths Lower costs using water Aquamould - Water injection technology Aquamould is similar to pressure is reduced Battenfeld s internal gas and the water is drai- pressure technology ned from the cavity. Airmould. The main The most suitable pro- difference between the cess depends on the two processes is the geometry of the mold- fact that Aquamould ed part, the required uses water instead of properties and the raw nitrogen. After injection material. of the melt, water is injected into the cavity. The water ensures that the mold cavity is com- Water pletely filled and also Plastics exerts the required fol- Mold low-up pressure. Before mold opening the water 2
The Aquamould Modular System The Aquamould Modular System With the Aquamould modular system machines can be perfectly adapted for a multitude of applications. It consists of the following components: Water compressors Pressure control Water injection modules Pressure generating units for water Pressure generating units for water are compact mobile units. All elements which come into contact with the water are made from copper (low-pressure areas) or stainless steel (high-pressure areas). The mobile pressure generating unit is linked to the injection molding machine with stainless steel pipes, high-pressure hoses and screw couplings. WE series pressure generating units are equipped with the following standard features: Physical preparation of the water Water heating to a maximum of 70 C Effective working pressures of up to 300 bar High injection capacities due to hydro accumulator systems Parallel supply of several injection molding machines Particularly low-noise emission Standard pressure generating units for water are available with an output of 60 l/h and 100 l/h. Other sizes are available on request. 3
Pressure Control Pressure control The electric control unit is either integrated into the control system of a Battenfeld injection molding machine or a mobile unit which is linked to the injection molding machine via an Aquamould interface (per as the tried andtested Airmould interface). Mobile control unit The mobile control unit is linked to the injection molding machine via an Aquamould interface. The mobile control unit can be used for Battenfeld or non- Battenfeld injection molding machines. 4
Aquamould Control Benefits The mobile control unit All time settings with a External data storage Program for actuation UNILOG B4 AC with precision of 1/100 s on disc of the core pullers touch-screen operation Graphical display of Data storage for (stroke valves); stan- offers the following the actual values for UNILOG B4 machine dard software, optio- benefits: pressure curves in the control unit and nal hardware equip- shape of profiles for Aquamould control ment High-resolution, large parallel operation of unit on the same disc Standard program for graphics screen up to four pressure All letters can be dis- actuation of the (VGA Color) control modules played (e.g. Japanese, metractable injection Menu-guided, user- Up to four pressure Chinese, Arabic etc.) modules friendly input system control modules can Standard version in Diagnostic function Pressure profile input be controlled German/English can (signal exchange with reference curve Control system identi- be switched to up to check) and up to nine freely cal to Battenfeld ten other optional lan- Pulsed program programmable posi- machine control unit guages Pressure control pro- tions UNILOG B4 Monitoring programme gram Up to 99 data sets Manual operation can be stored Water pressure control The water pressure is controlled with pressure control modules. The compact design of these modules allows them to be positioned close to the mold. This ensures very precise control as well as fur- are suitable for low and hydraulic oil or com- ther reduction of water high water volumes. pressed air. consumption. Leakage- The valves are actuated free valves are used for electrically which precise control of the dispenses with the water pressure. They need for a supply of 5
Aquamould Modules Water injection modules Water is injected via injection modules inside the mold. The small design of these injection modules is perfectly suitable for the special requirements of water injection technology. Prior to de-molding, all water is removed from the molded part. This can be achieved in different ways such as: By gravity through the water injection points The use of gas pressure applied to a second inlet of the injection molded component Main benefits: There are many good Powerful pressure Mobile control units Additional benefits: reasons for using generating units for can be used for Competent manufac- Aquamould : water a parallel supply Battenfeld and non- turer of injection mol- several to injection Battenfeld machines ding machines All components are molding machines Pressure control Experienced in all perfectly tuned, com- Mobile control modu- modules with high-pre- main innovative injec- pact and modular in les are easy to opera- cision, leakage-free tion molding proces- their application te and connected to valves ses the injection molding machine via an Aquamould interface 6
Aquamould Applications Areas of application for Aquamould Technology Aquamould Technology Decoration panels, is suitable for all thick- roof racks etc. walled components as Office equipment: well as for components Handles, transport with large cross sec- rolls, fixtures etc. tions or long flow Armrests: turnstiles paths: for chairs etc. Domestic appliances: Potential applications are components such pipelines for water heaters, washing Source IKV, Aachen as: machines or dishwash- Thick-walled handles, ers, knobs for cook- pipes, armrests etc. ers and others Thick-walled compo- Sports and leisure nents with thin-walled applications: carrier sections such as pipe- handles lines, pipes with Toys with thick-walled fastening lugs etc. sections Cars: handles of all Shafts for rackets kinds Pipelines for air or (e.g. ball games) etc. Medical engineering: Source IKV, Aachen water pipelines, knobs, can- Door modules with nulas etc. reinforcement channels Aquamould services Battenfeld offers custo- Design optimization Source IKV, Aachen mers a whole range of for the process services which include Determination of melt Training in-house or at Test-runs at one of the following: and water injection Battenfeld training Battenfeld s technical Technical support Selection of the injec- centres centres throughout the entire tion molding machine, Design of the molded Consultancy and process from the initi- mold, Aquamould article and design guide- support after delivery al idea to series pro- modular system, auto- lines of the system duction mation 7
Your local contact Injection Molding Technology Battenfeld GmbH Scherl 10 D-58540 Meinerzhagen Tel. ++49 (+) 23 54/72-0 Fax ++49 (+) 23 54/72-528 Battenfeld Kunststoffmaschinen Ges.m.b.H. Wiener Neustädter Straße 81 A-2542 Kottingbrunn Tel. ++43 (+) 22 52/404-0 Fax ++43 (+) 22 52/404-702 www.sms-k.com SMS Plastics Technology BMF 10/01 (TS 10/01), KR, 2000, E, FSW, 3168 Information subject to change