ADDITIONAL PRODUCT NEWS

Progressive Components Offers New Time Saving Standards  

Progressive Components introduces its new Keyed Ejectors and Puller Pins™ and Bushings as off-the-shelf standards that save mold build and production time. 

In applications involving molding a contoured surface or a detail such as a number or logo, Progressive’s new Keyed Ejectors keep ejector pins oriented in the mold.  The edge of the ejector pin head is precision flat at the tangent point, thus no additional machining is required.  The Keyed Ejectors are offered in a wide range of inch sizes and are competitively priced.  Custom sizes are also available.

Progressive’s new Puller Pins and Bushings are ideal for 3-plate molds to hold the sprue gate in place, allowing proper operation of the sprue and runner removal process.  These are also conveniently available off-the-shelf and offer the following benefits: 

• Puller Pin undercuts are heat treated after machining for added durability

• Bushings are sized for standard plate thicknesses, eliminating custom manufacturing and fitting

• Bushings allow for quick and secure installation, and feature a tapered lead-in for smooth long-term performance

• Customs are also available at competitive pricing and delivery.

Improved UltraFlow Hot Runner Nozzle Tip allows the Industry’s Fastest Color Changes 

Husky Hot Runners has introduced its redesigned UltraFlow mixing tip, which delivers the industry's fastest color changes and is ideal for applications that require frequent color changes, such as closures. Husky offers the only system that truly mixes the melt just before it enters the cavity. The patented technology has been dramatically improved to allow a wider range of applications to be processed. 

UltraFlow tips effectively deliver the most thermally homogenous melt to the cavity. Benefits include:

• Color change: significant time, resin and cost savings for applications that require frequent color changes.

• Molecular/filler orientation: more uniform stress concentrations in parts when compared to traditional tips.

• Dimensional stability: molded parts are less susceptible to warpage, as the uniform molecular structure enables parts to shrink evenly.

• Part aesthetics: eliminates visible flow lines in parts and ensures even colorant dispersal because of the mixing action of UltraFlow.

The standard UltraFlow design can handle up to 26,000 psi and is available with a high-pressure option that can handle up to 35,000 psi. 

"We believe Husky has the best hot runner system for closures on the market and UltraFlow is a technology that helps achieve the fastest color changes for closures producers," Martin Baumann, Business Development and Marketing Manager for Husky Hot Runners, said. 

Software Helps Designers Avoid Environmental Stress Cracking Product Failures 

Granta Design has announced the latest release of GRANTA MI™, the leading system for managing, analyzing, and applying materials information in engineering enterprises. GRANTA MI 1.2 makes it easier for users of plastics to analyze materials usage, saving time and cost, to identify and avoid issues related to environmental stress cracking (ESC), to optimize polymer selection, and to manage, use, and share information about their materials. 

ESC is a critical issue when designing with plastics. A recent study showed that 25% of plastic part failures are related to ESC – cracking due to the combined effects of stress and a chemical agent. 

GRANTA MI 1.2 provides simple guidance on the ESC performance of plastics, based on an analysis of the available data. It integrates this guidance with analysis tools that make it easy to study and compare materials, and to highlight potential ESC risks during design. 

Plastics users also get enhanced data on permeability and biodegradability – information that will be useful in areas including eco-design, packaging, and medical devices. GRANTA MI can now handle any document type, allowing users to store, search for, and view all of their materials information in a single place – whether that information consists of numbers, text, spreadsheets, images, or PDF and Word documents. 

CNC Software Unveils the Second Maintenance Release for Mastercam X  

CNC Software has released Mastercam X Maintenance Release 2 (MR2).  This release is available to all Mastercam Maintenance customers. MR2 introduces significant new capabilities, including a suite of new advanced multiaxis toolpaths, Mastercam X Art, and much more.  

A new engine has been added to the advanced multiaxis toolpaths. This engine provides a customized, streamlined interface that is fine-tuned to specific applications, such as impellers and turbine blades. Depending on what toolpath is being used, Mastercam’s parameter pages display only parameters applicable to the specific toolpath type.   

Advanced controls for gouge-checking allow full control of the tool motion. And users are not limited to retracting only along the tool axis; they have several options to select from. Full roughing capability is also available for the entire advanced multiaxis machining strategies, including an option for plunge roughing.  

Mastercam Art is now available with Mastercam X. Version 9 Art features and functions have been upgraded and integrated in the Mastercam X interface, including text menus, hot keys, toolbars, and Help. A new Art Manager tracks Art surfaces and operations.   

Additional MR2 enhancements are also now included. 

Power Priority™ and Enhanced Control Algorithm 

Gammaflux has developed a new control algorithm specifically designed to improve control of small, low mass hot runner nozzles.    

These nozzles, which in some cases can be 0.250” or smaller in diameter, provide unique challenges to any hot runner temperature controller.  Gammaflux has improved its existing Triangulated Control Technology® to provide tighter control than ever before possible.

The new Gammaflux Power Priority™ smoothes the power output and melt heat history for individual zones.  Users have the option to manually apply a Power Priority™ set point from 1 (light) to 4 (heavy) output, providing unparalleled control for applications where it is most needed. 

This new control algorithm is available on all Gammaflux LEC and TTC temperature control systems.  Gammaflux is offering free two week trials of its controllers to any customer who is molding with these low mass nozzles.  “We feel confident that molders will see a big difference in control with this new technology,” said Mike Brostedt, Gammaflux Director of Market Development.  “If after two weeks they aren’t satisfied, they can return the controller to us with no obligation.”

PRONTO Hot Runners Ship in Two Weeks 

Husky Hot Runners has introduced two-week shipments for its PRONTO line of hot runners. It is the only quick delivery program of its kind to offer fully configurable, complete hot halves with plates and manifold systems in two weeks at a reduced cost. 

Every PRONTO hot runner is optimized for its application and melt channels are sized for the specific part it is molding. Manufactured at the company's North American hot runner facility in Milton, Vt., the new PRONTO delivery times are available to customers in North America and Asia."Faster deliveries are key in helping our customers meet increasingly tighter project deadlines," Keith Carlton, Husky's Vice President of Hot Runners, said. "Thanks to a number of recent lean initiatives at our Milton facility, we've been able to streamline our manufacturing process." 

PRONTO offers mold designers flexibility in terms of nozzle selection, length and gating option within a defined nozzle pitch range. PRONTO offers more than 120 plate sizes that match the majority of industry standard mold bases, and is available in 1, 2, 4 and 8 drop manifold configurations. Various nozzles sizes - Ultra 500, Ultra 750 and Ultra 1000 - and a wide variety of thermal and valve gating options are available.