Wittmann Battenfeld will show its newly developed injection-compression process called Hi-Q shaping in a demonstration of micro molding at the Medtec show in Stuttgart (Feb. 26 to 28).

One of the strategies in developing the electric PowerSeries was to target medical technology markets and

clean-room processing applications. The two lines in the series are the EcoPower and MicroPower.

At Medtec, a MicroPower 15/10 will produce a micro filter made of polyacetal with an 80µ grid and a part weight of 1.1 mg. Applications for the part include acoustical engineering, micro pumps, and inhalators. It will be produced in a 2-cavity mold with 3-platen injection.

The MicroPower has a two-step injection unit, consisting of a screw and a plunger, with a shot volume ranging from 0.05 to 4 cm³. According to Wittmann Battenfeld, the benefit is thermally homogeneous melt, resulting in stable production and short cycle times.

The newly developed Hi-Q shaping injection-compression molding process is said to enable the production of parts with very little internal stress and good surfaces. Process parameters for temperature and pressure are added to the settings for time and distance, making it possible to regulate the embossing pressure via the clamping force setting for specific processes.

Embossing pressure is applied to the entire surface of the part just above the glass transition temperature, reducing stress. "As a result, parts are produced with a perfectly constant weight, minimal shrinkage and excellent surface quality," Wittmann Battenfeld said in a press release.

The Medtec demonstration is a completely integrated clean room production cell with a rotary disk, parts removal handling, integrated quality inspection by imaging and a clean-room module. The machine's design and the clean room module enable a class-6 clean air environment according to ISO 14644-1.