New Auxiliaries Are Modular And Easy To Use

New Auxiliaries Are Modular And Easy To Use

Motan's NPE offerings included a new press-side dryer, new control options for their Luxor drying line, three new gravimetric dosing and blending units, a new graphical user interface (GUI) for materials handling and an automated materials selection and distribution system.

Pricing information is available directly from Motan, using the Key Contact Directory on p 38.

Press-side dryer The portable Luxor 80 dryer is designed to produce 80 cu ft/min of dry air at a dew point of -40 F. Unit has twin stationary desiccant beds, alternate process and regeneration cycles and separate process and regeneration heaters. It accommodates one or two drying bins with volumes ranging between 60 and 250 lb.

The dry air heater is mounted directly to the drying bin to avoid energy loss during the transportation of dry air. Motan is targeting this unit at applications requiring low throughput rates.

The portable dryer is mounted on casters. Other features include a drying bin adapter for material take-off and a drying bin shut-off slide gate.

Dryer control options are designed for use with Motan's entire Luxor dryer line, as well as with older lines of dryers and blenders.

For larger dryers is the Luxor PLC Control, which uses commercial PLCs with touchscreen and full diagnostics for 4-hr operating windows for all dryer functions. Troubleshooting procedures, as well as fault memory can be accessed through the touchscreen. Digital screen captures are available on request.

For smaller dryers, the Luxor AM Controls use Motan's AM (Advanced Microprocessor) control, which is said to be very easy and simple to use. The AM controller automatically establishes drying temperatures, drying time and temperature modulations for up to 24 different materials. All the operator has to do is push the 'start' button and the AM controller takes over.

The AM comes standard with the ATN drying function, which monitors material throughput against the drying time and lowers the temperature to prevent damage during low-throughput situations. This is said to save energy and to keep the material dry until throughput increases. The ATN system is designed to then ramp temperatures up to provide modulation of process temperatures based on material use.

The ATN function is a retrofittable option on the Luxor PLC controller.

Four-material gravimetric blender meters and blends up to 150 kg/hr (~330 lb/hr) with accuracy rated at 0.1%, according toMotan. The unit is equipped with segmented hoppers, a weighing hopper and two weighing cells. Cylindrical valves are used for dosing.

The Gravicolor 100 can be installed directly on injection molding machines and extruders, or it can be used as a central blending station. All hardware in contact with resin is stainless steel and a large site glass is included.

PLCs constantly check the actual metered and weighed amounts against preset values. An interface to a printer and/or central control is available.

Other specifications: dosing range per component, 5 to 100%, dosing range per additive, 0.8 to 10% and hopper capacity (component or additive), 18 lb. 

Six-material gravimetric blender is designed for both injection molding and extrusion processes. It has a throughput of 300 kg/hr (~660 lb/hr) and, like the Gravicolor 100, it is said to be capable of blending additives to within ±0.1% accuracy.

The stainless steel unit has a swing-slide gate and the mixing chamber is set on a slight bias to ensure complete emptying. The inlet is flared to minimize the change of spillage. A window surrounds the blender.

PLCs include a full-message display for ease of use and viewing of all parameters. The control panel can be removed and operated from another position.

Other specifications: dosing range per component, 5 to 100%, dosing range per additive, 0.8 to 10%, hopper capacity (component), 50 lb and hopper capacity (additive), 20 lb. 

Compact blender can be mounted on the feed throat of an injection molding machine and comes with the option of two dosing stations, each with a maximum capacity of 44 lb/hr.

Three versions are available with dosing ranges as follows: 0.2 to 3.3 lb/hr, 1.1 to 16.5 lb/hr and 3.3 to 44 lb/hr. Total throughput is 260 lb/hr. Additive hopper capacity is 12 lb.

The MiniColor is also equipped with a brushless motor, which reduces maintenance.

The unit also has a sight glass that spans the entire length of the hopper. A small encased compressed air loader, the MiniColor LV, is an option that can be attached by changing the hopper lid.

Two types of control are available and dosing can be either continuous for extrusion or during screw-back times for injection. 

Graphical user interface (GUI), calledLinkNet, is said to simplify and centrally control the monitoring and verifying functions of conveying, drying and blending systems. The GUI checks the input from each plant shift's database, which logssetpoints, feedback, alarms and other event data and does not accept invalid input.

Designed for Windows, LinkNet uses a simple and intuitive menu-driven format. It offers multiple levels of password-protected access so various users (floor managers, machine operators and service engineers) can access the system at different levels. A 'help' link in the display menu allows users to ask questions. 

Material selection and distribution is automated withMetroLink, a modular unit that accepts as many as 16 source materials and accommodates from three to 15 machines. Rapid and contamination-free material changes are claimed because flexible material hose is not used in MetroLink's construction.

Instead, it uses an air cylinder to rotate a disk into the precise position to connect the materials to a pre-programmed destination. These stations can be configured with up to 15 standard rotating disks, allowing the unit to convey to as many as 240 connections. Material line diameter is 1-1/2 in.

The compact, vertical design is said to have minimal space requirements. Units can be stacked. Dimensions are as follows: for three to five outlets, system is 7.8 in. tall; for six to 10 outlets, 11.6 in. tall and for 11 to 15 outlets, 15.4 in. tall.

Motan Inc.
Plainwell, MI