Arburg Plastic Freeforming is predestined for the additive manufacturing of medtech components. The associated Freeformer-type additive manufacturing systems process the same plastic pellets that are used in injection molding. That makes the open systems very economical to use.

In the AKF process, resorbable original materials such a plate-implants similar to bone, can be manufactured. They are gradually replaced by endogenous tissue

Medical Product Manufacturers Are Processing Original Materials Using the Freeformer

Anlagen Additive Fertigung / 3D-Druck, andere

Anlagen für die Additive Fertigung

Biokunststoffe

Kunststoff Werkstoffe

Additive Fertigung

Medizintechnik

Medizinprodukte

Werkstoffe für additive Verfahren

Andere Werkstoffe

Arburg Kunststoff Freiformen

Verfahren für die additive Fertigung

Freiraumverfahren

New Possibilities for Use  in the Human Body

Up to now, the integration of electronic components and consequently, the production of customized 3D-printed sensors has presented a challenge. Now, together with the companies Arburg and Balluff, Fraunhofer IPA has achieved a breakthrough.

Demonstration model of customized sensor at different production stages: CAD concept (top left), after integrationof the electronic components (top right) and as a finished demonstration model (bottom)

16:9

Technik Trend

kunststoffe-international.com

Sensoren

Logistik

Lagertechnik

Sensors from the Printer

tesa develops e. g. adhesives for smartphone components and investigate the added value that additive manufacturing with plastics freeforming can bring.

“Printed” pressure-sensitive adhesives can be used, for example, to bond smartphone components together, without producing any waste

tesa Uses Freeformer for Novel Bonding Applications

Klebstoffe

Verbindungstechnik Verfahren

Chemisches Fügeverfahren

What Holds the World together

Additive manufacturing has the potential to manufacture tablets individualized for the particular patient, and thereby further digitalize the pharmaceutical industry. In medication development, the properties of a tablet, such as its shape, dosage or release of the active substance, can be individually tailored – by making just a few changes to the digital 3D print file. Merck scientists have used a Freeformer for their lab tests.

Merck researcher Dr. Thomas Kipping (right) and Nabil Lamrabet value the advantages that the Freeformer offers as an open system.

The Freeformer Allows a Tailor-Made Combination of Several Active Ingredients

Anlagen Additive Fertigung / 3D-Druck, Kunststoff

Patient-Specific Tablets

Emilio López has been appointed as the new managing director of Engel de Mexico SA de CV. He succeeds Peter Auinger, who retired on 1st September 2021.

Emilio López is the new managing director of Engel de Mexico SA de CV

Spritzgießen

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Verfahren

Spritzgießmaschinen, allgemein

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Maschinen und Komponenten

Spritzgießmaschinen

New Managing Director in Mexico

iQ motion control from Engel now allows reliable early start combined with fully automatically optimized motion planning. The assistance system has been part of the standard kit of all new Engel viper-type linear robots since October 2021.

If the robot travels into the mold area already during the mold opening movement, this can shorten the cycle time. The effect is particularly large in the case of parts with long cores, such as boxes

iQ Motion Control Brings the Injection-Molding Machine and Robot Closer together

Steuerungen (Hardware und Software)

Automatisierungstechnik

Linearroboter für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Handling, Handhabungstechnik

Industrie 4.0 für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Industrie 4.0

A Production Cell with Fluid Movements

Over past months, many in-house workflows and development processes have slowed down and also changed. Nevertheless, time has not stood still, also not in injection molding technology. The debate and development have been shaped by two themes: digitalization and the circular economy. Below are some examples of developments and projects that underpin this trend.

Two displays are seamlessly integrated into the continuously 3D-formed instrument panel

Innovative Injection Molding in Times of Pandemic

Schaumspritzgießen

Künstliche Intelligenz für die Qualitätssicherung

Industrie 4.0 für die Qualitätssicherung

Steuern, Regeln

Software

Mehrkomponenten-Spritzgießen

Folientechnik (IMD, IML, FIM, u.a.)

Digitale Transformation

Wirtschaft

Innovationen und neue Technologie

Spritzgießwerkzeuge

Werkzeuge für die Kunststoffverarbeitung

Spritzgieß-Sonderverfahren

Nachhaltigkeit

Umweltmanagement

Spritzgießsimulation

Simulation

Schnecken und Plastifiziersysteme

Machine Learning / Künstliche Intelligenz für die spanende Fertigung

Industrie 4.0 für die spanende Fertigung

Kunststoff-Recycling

Kunststoff-Aufbereitung

Lasermarkieren

Oberflächentechnik

Laserbearbeitungen

Inline- / Online-Messsysteme

Qualitätssicherung

Qualitätssicherung Kunststoff

Kreislaufwirtschaft

There Is More beyond the Horizon

Which injection molding machine is the right one for which application? Below we will demonstrate why performance is not always performance, but physics is always physics.

Direct drives such as planetary roller screw drives are very precise and durable

How Feed Rate, Injection Volume and Filling Time Correlate with Injection Unit Performance

Kugelgewindetriebe

Maschinenelemente

Getriebe

Elektrische Antriebe für Spritzgießmaschinen

Antriebe

Elektrische Antriebe

Elektromechanische Maschinen

A Question of Class

At Fakuma 2021, iQ Weight Control will be unveiled with its new interface and expanded functionality. The new developments have been driven by feedback from customers. With its consistently user-centered development approach, Engel is one of the pioneers.

The new release of iQ weight control is based on feedback from users. In the user-centered development process, Engel closely involves its customers at all stages

The Assistance System iQ Weight Control Promises Greater Clarity and New Functions

Produktentwicklung(sprozess)

Qualitätsmanagement

Focusing on the User

The ninth broadcast by arburgXvision was about strategies for significantly increasing the utilization rate of injection molding machines.

Moderator Guido Marschall and Arburg experts Christian Homp and Christoph Blöchle (from right) discussed how the right mold strategy pays off for injection molding companies

“Mold Strategy 2.0 – New Ideas for Reducing Costs”

New date for the industry event is June 22th to 25th, 2022.

Safety first: to ensure that guests from all over the world can meet at the Technology Days (the picture shows the 2019 event) as carefree as possible, Arburg has postponed the date

Arburg Technology Days 2022 Will Take Place in June

Arburg will be showing the hybrid high-performance Hidrive series on its stand no. 21B25 in Hall 2, with an Allrounder 520 H producing 32 pipette tips in around 6 s cycle time.

The hybrid Allrounder 520 H on show at Interplastica is equipped with a 32-cavity mold and produces pipette tips in a cycle time of around 6 s.

High-Tech for Medical Technology

From 25 to 28 January, the OOO Engel team presents its booth in Moscow again. The injection molding machine manufacturer and system solution provider headquartered in Austria is making the huge potential of digital solutions tangible by producing technical parts live on a tie-bar-less victory injection molding machine.

Engel victory injection molding machines with tie-bar-less clamping units.

The Benefits of Tie-Bar-Less Technology

The product portfolio of Wittmann and Wittmann Battenfeld will in future be presented under the uniform Wittmann brand name. This reflects the company’s claim to be a provider of total solutions for injection molders.

Michael Wittmann, Managing Director and CEO of the Wittmann Group. The group operates eight production plants in five countries, and the additional sales companies at their 34 different locations are present in all major industrial markets around the world.

Unternehmen

kunststoffe.de

Wittmann Group Changes Its Brand Strategy

Paul Caprio has left Engel North America effective January 31st, 2022. Now the company presents the new management board.

Engel North America Management Board (left to right): Johann Dastl (CFO), Vanessa Malena (COO), Benjamin Lettner (CSO), Mark Sankovitch (CEO).

New Management Board at Engel North America

Arburg presents a total of four Allrounder exhibits and two Freeformers on show. All machines will be connected live to the Arburg host computer system ALS for demonstration purposes and to the arburgXworld customer portal, another focus of the trade fair display. Detailed information on the arburgGreenworld environmental and recycling program will round off Arburg‘s involvement in Chinaplas.

Zhao Tong, Director of Arburg‘s organizations in China, notes the importance of the event in Shanghai (25 to 28 April 2022): „Chinaplas is the most important trade fair for us in the entire region. It is important that we showcase cutting-edge technology here, because the high-end market in China is also constantly growing and gaining in importance. Arburg has chosen the focal points of its trade fair activities accordingly. With our injection molding machines and automation systems, we offer optimal solutions for individual series production, and with the Freeformers, further solutions for the production of prototypes and small series. Then there are tools like arburgXworld and the ALS host computer system for supporting service and production management, and the arburgGreenworld environmental and recycling program for greater resource conservation and production efficiency.“

Zhao Tong sees the electric Allrounder 470 A with 1000 kN clamping force, size 290 injection unit and Gestica control system as an important highlight. A Multilift Select with a load capacity of six kilograms completes the configuration. The powerful injection unit with 35 mm three-zone screw can produce even complex parts in multiple molds quickly and to a high standard without any problems. As a sample for the trade fair, the electronic ‚connector‘ part will be produced on this machine in a 16-cavity mold. Each part weighs 0.59 g, and the 16 connectors will be produced in a cycle time of around six seconds. The machine‘s energy requirement is very low, which increases economy and efficiency. This means that the Allrounder also fits in very well with the company‘s efforts as part of the arburgGreenworld program.

Fast: Medical Technology on a Hybrid Machine

On a hybrid Allrounder 470 H with a clamping force of 1000 kN, size 400 injection unit with 35 mm standard screw and Gestica control system, pipette tips will be produced from PP in a 64-cavity mold. The cycle time for this high-speed product is only seven seconds, which is partly due to the machine being equipped with powerful memory technology and the aXw Control ScrewPilot for reproducible injection and high molded part quality. The shot weight is 64 grams. The complex automation comes from regional Chinese manufacturer Ningbo Welllih Robot Technology Co, LTD. In addition to a Luxor80 granule feed from Motan, a hot runner system from Husky and two HB-Therm temperature control devices are also used.

A face mask will be injection molded in a 4-cavity mold from Polarform Werkzeugbau GmbH. The sample part will run on a 570 E Golden Electric Allrounder during Chinaplas. The high-end system with this machine for LSR processing is a novelty in Asia. The Allrounder 570 E Golden Electric is defined here as an entry-level machine with maximum precision for the special application of LSR injection molding. It has a clamping force of 2000 kN and a size 800 injection unit with a 45 mm LSR screw and no mixing or compression zone. A special non-return valve is also used for low-viscosity material.

A Wacker Chemie AG LSR optimized for medical technology is processed. The molded part weight is around 42 grams and the cycle time some 60 seconds. The extreme undercut of the mask and different wall thicknesses with the very thin lip make the injection molding of these parts highly complex. The gripper on the Multilift Select robotic system with a 15-kilogram load capacity in transverse design ensures precise, smooth removal. It comes from Barth Mechanik GmbH, and the dosing system from Chinese manufacturer Mucomac in Shenzhen.

The system is completed by a CoolShot cold runner system from Ewikon with electrically needle-type shut-off system and a cooling unit from Shini in Taipei. For medical technology, which is also one of the most important industries in this region, clean production with maximum process control is indispensable. Arburg can fully guarantee this with this configuration.

The largest Arburg machine at Chinaplas will be a hydraulic Allrounder 820 S optimized for fiber direct compounding (FDC). The machine has a clamping force of 4000 kN and a size 3200 injection unit equipped with a 70 mm special screw for long glass fiber processing. The aXw Control ScrewPilot, which allows reproducible mold filling via the control of injection pressure and speed is also included as necessary basic equipment. A platform will be produced with a PP as base material. The single-cavity mold has a hot runner with needle-type shut-off nozzles. The molded part weight is 700 g and the cycle time some 80 seconds.

The FDC lightweight construction process is characterized by high material availability and up to 40 per cent lower costs compared to special long-fiber granules. FDC molded parts are used in all innovative sectors of plastics processing, such as automotive construction or the aerospace industry. The physical properties that can be achieved are due to the individually adaptable long fibers. The FDC unit directly on the injection unit is integrated into the Selogica control system, as is the entire process, and includes a servo-electric lateral feeder with built-in cutting device, an adapted cylinder, and special screw geometry.

The molded parts are removed from the single mold via a Multilift Select robotic system with a load capacity of 15 kg. Downstream, the items are weighed inline via a scale automation system for quality assurance, entered into the process documentation, and then deposited on a conveyor belt.

Business Potential in China and Asia Remains High

According to Zhao Tong, the exhibits at Chinaplas 2022 are a perfect match for the current market requirements in China: „The automotive industry is becoming increasingly energized by developments and applications in the field of e-mobility. In medical technology, Arburg can make an important contribution to more stable supply chains thanks to its central production, its on-time delivery, and the high reliability of its Allrounders. More and more companies are also looking to IT solutions such as the arburgXworld customer portal and the ALS host computer system to increase their production efficiency. With our products and technologies that are ‚Made in Germany‘, we are in the right place at the right time. Because – and this is also demonstrated by our involvement in Chinaplas – we can offer our customers regionalized services to fully support them in increasing quality, efficiency and resource conservation in their companies.“

Shanghai venue: 25 to 28 April 2022, Hall 2.1, booth G62

ARBURG GmbH + Co KG  

https://www.arburg.com

A highlight at Chinaplas 2022 is an electric Allrounder 470 A with Gestica control system.

Arburg will be demonstrating the potential of freeformers for additive manufacturing on two exhibits at Chinaplas 2022.

Zhao Tong, Managing Director Arburg China