Capillary extrusion rheometer is a powerful floor-standing instrument designed to measure the flow of materials such as molten plastics to aid die design.
Magna Projects and Instruments' Eta 2100 capillary extrusion rheometer is a powerful floor-standing instrument designed to measure the flow of materials such as molten plastics, doughs, pastes, rubbers, foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc, under the duress of conditions likely to be found in processing. Models within the range are capable of reaching material pressures as high as 2100 bar (30,000 psi) at temperatures of up to 450degC. Since the viscosity of most materials is not constant but changes with the speed of processing, the Eta 2100 uses a state-of-the-art servo drive system to control the speed of extrusion over a very wide range.

The whole system is computer controlled by Magna's RheoTenax software suite, which has been especially written to be user friendly and provide a wide range of manual and automatic control options, and an advanced analysis and presentation package.

The instrument - a very highly instrumented and controlled piston-driven extrusion machine - is useful for formulation development, materials research, troubleshooting, quality control, generation of data for mould or die design software.

The extruded product may be tested using other techniques in order to link processing behaviour with, for example, mechanical properties.

Accessories are available to measure swelling after extrusion (die swell), viscous heating, effect of hydrostatic pressure on viscosity, etc.

The Eta 2100 is complemented by Magna's benchtop MiniCER capillary rheometers, for applications which do not require the high pressures etc of the Eta 2100.

Magna's products are designed on a modular basis so that modifications to suit specific applications may be made easily and cost-effectively.

By using a Trumpf PowerWeld HL124P, Worksop-based Moeller Manufacturing has created a win-win situation that pleases both their customers and their financial director. They supply a wide range of rotary switches on short delivery times with a minimum of stockholding. In this lean environment tooling must therefore always be ready to use, and premature wear, or accidental damage to a key injection moulding tool can play havoc with typical end-product delivery times of only 2 or 3 days.

With their PowerWeld, Moeller are always now only minutes away from being able to use any tool - even if it needs repairing first ! The Trumpf PowerWeld machine range has been specifically developed to enable mould tools to be repaired with a previously unattainable speed and quality.

PowerWeld is a self-contained, small footprint machine that uses an NdYAG laser to repair mould tool edges by the controlled micro-deposition of a filler material.

Not only is it fast, precise and predictable, but it is 'minimally intrusive' and therefore will not thermally distort delicate tooling elements or metallurgically alter the parent metal.

According to Moeller's MD David Howell, installation and integration were quick and easy - as was the training in this new technology.

He states:- 'Our existing TIG welders picked it up in '5-minutes' and they like it - because its much easier to use.' The in-built fume extraction and particulate filtration create a clean working environment, and adjustable chair and armrest lead to fatigue-free operation.

The work is viewed through a 25x magnification stereo-microscope, enabling precise targeting of the worn or damaged area of the tool.

The work-piece can easily be moved by small, precise amounts because the work-table surface is air-cushioned; movement is controlled by either joy-stick or CNC, the latter providing a unidirectional, controlled straight-line feed.

Process parameters can be selected by a display and keypad, and can be saved for use on repeat operations.

Apart from the speed, precision, and overall predictability of the operation, one of the biggest benefits to Moeller has been is the virtual elimination of follow-on hand-work or dressing.

According to David Howell:- 'Subsequent dressing takes only 'a couple of minutes' with a diamond file - in fact the total time to repair a 50mm long worn tool edge is no more than 5 minutes!' Instead of hours - or even days; Moeller are now only minutes away from being able to use any tool, even if it needs refurbishing first - a win-win situation that surely satisfies both the FD and the customer.