NPE 2000 Showcase - Injection Molding Machines: Molding machine trends

Several hundred moldingmachines were strutting their stuff at NPE, and withthe machine demonstrations stretching the boundaries of the molder'sart, there was plenty to observe and linger over. Our report givesyou the flavor of today's molding machine along with a glimpseto the future.

Working-classMachines

With the paradigm-shifting developments in total systems connectivitynow occurring, manufacturing cells soon may not rely on only themost intelligent and expensive presses. In a cell at NPE 2000that was engineered for Autojectors by Forte Automation (Rockford,IL), a 220-ton Indigo toggle molded crystal-PS tumblers in a two-cavitymold at cycles of less than 8 seconds. A robot removed and stackedthe tumblers onto a conveyor, after which they were packed. Itscontroller signaled all the discrete automation devices in thecell.

Battenfeld's latest Unilog B2 and B4 controls are convenientlyintegrated into the center consoles of its classic CDC seriesof small-tonnage, Austrian-built hydraulics. Versatile CDCs alsocan come equipped with Battenfeld's new high-precision clamping-unitpackage. It's designed to help molders meet the mounting needfor close-tolerance molded parts from demanding markets like medical.The package includes improved mold closing with the help of stabilizedguide strips; a tighter reduced tolerance range for parallelismof both the moving and fixed platens; and decreased longitudinaltiebar and space column tolerances to improve precision.

At NPE, a 110-ton Model BA 1000/315 CDC LSR controlled by aUnilog B4 was fully integrated with an LSR molding package. Itmade LSR grommets in 128-cavity cold runner tooling from Hefnerof Austria. For molders serving much bigger markets molding moreGP parts, Battenfeld showed the latest model in its TM seriesof reliable, affordable, and uncomplicated toggles (55 to 500tons). Company sources say more than 1000 TMs have been sold sincetheir formal debut at K'98.

In Chicago, Battenfeld showed the world that its TM machinesare built to perform by demonstrating 176-ton Model TM 1600/100,equipped with the company's Unilog B4 controller. It ran closuresat high speeds. TMs, though general-purpose machines, are speciallydesigned to provide high-speed precision, long term. Their toggleclamps are tuned to combine reliability and process safety withlow maintenance. And their 22:1 L/D injection units can be combinedwith any of three different screw sizes.

Chuan Lih Fa displayed a 250-ton model in its new TW Seriestoggles. Among its key features are programmable mold operation,cartridge valving, and LCD-screen controls with a variety of practicalfunctionalities-like robot interfacing.

Demag Ergotech USA has expanded its Modular Concept line ofmolding machines. The line now includes hydraulic machines from25 to 110 metric tons, and toggles from 125 to 360 metric tons.Two tiebar space options; three injection unit options, each withthree optional screw diameters; and standard or high-speed pumpunits are offered on each model. Modular Concept presses alsofeature quick-change screw/barrel systems for each of
the three shooter options. Each screw/barrel combination has itsown 20:1 L/D option.

At NPE, the line was represented by an 80-tonner with a high-performancepump designed to provide precision and fast cycling. It moldedthin-wall slide frames in MIPS in 2.9-second cycles.

At the other end of the scale, Engel introduced its 660-tonModel ES 4500/660 TL, the largest tiebarless machine Engel hasbuilt. It dramatically demonstrated that tiebarless clamp designsare not reserved solely for smaller-tonnage machines. It ran a6-lb, 8-by-4-inch-diameter ABS T-type pipe fitting. The single-cavitymold had three huge, protruding core pull cylinders that wouldhave been unbearably difficult to set up in a machine with tiebars.
Arburg showed for the first time in North America the largestand the smallest models of its Allrounder Series. The Allrounder630 is not just a larger version of an existing design. Modificationswere made to keep the footprint relatively small for a machineof its capacity. Also, the clamping unit can be adjusted to suitthe mold height, so the stroke is needed only to open the mold,not to adjust mold height.

On the smaller side sits the Allrounder 220, which was builtfor technical small parts, with a clamp force of 17 tons. TheArburg engineering group squeezed all the control cabinetry underthe machine to give the unit a footprint of 82.7 by 31.5 inches.The moving platen is supported by a six-point guide assembly andthe injection unit (.59-inch diameter, 18:1 screw) is a pivotablemodular assembly that can be completely removed. Both new pressesinclude Selogica controls with graphical sequence programming.

ADDING VALUE

Ferromatik Milacron North America's all-U.S.-built, value-packed,fully hydraulic Vista Edge injection molding machine (22 to 120tons, 220 or 440V) made its debut at NPE. Although attractivelypriced, the Edge is not a "cheap" machine. For instance,its variable-volume hydraulics and nonintimidating open loop controllerboth are from Bosch. Digital transducers are used instead of linearpots. Platen thickness is twice that of the competition, the spaceit provides between the bars meets or exceeds market standards,and its base is built to be durable, even with an accessible three-wayparts drop under the clamp. Basically, it is designed to providethe basics molders need for supplying most established marketsand even a few that have just begun to emerge. As detailed lastmonth, the 33-ton Vista Edge in Chicago demonstrated MIM.

Machines come with a choice of injection units, with shot sizesranging from 1 to 13.2 oz and pressures up to 36,200 psi. A 33-tonner,like the one at NPE, has a 25-mm screw, a maximum shot size of2 oz, and melt pressures up to 29,200 psi. Available options includecore pull and air eject.

Hettinga didn't bring a machine to NPE, but instead highlightedits new CoDeMo process. CoDeMo produces a closed-cell foamed corepanel surrounded by a smooth, thin skin and can be molded in sizesup to 4 by 8 ft and .375 to 1 inch thick. The panels are offeredas alternatives to wood and wood compoSite boards; Hettinga offerscustomized machine systems that use the CoDeMo process.

FEATURE-RICHECONOMY MODELS

Ferromatik Milacron's latest small press design, its VistaV Series toggles (33 to 120 tons), comes equipped with the company'sEthernet-workable Xtreem PC-based controls (see p. 54 for details).Other machinery standards include a digitally linearized clamp,variable-volume hydraulics, and eject on the fly. The machinesalso are designed to cycle about 25 percent faster than machinesbuilt on Milacron's previous-generation Sentry press platform.

Fortune Intl., which reps molding machines built by Taiwan'sVictor-Taichung, brought two recently introduced models in Victor'sVr Series molding machines. A 130-ton toggle model features standard,fully enclosed guarding and semi-closed loop hydraulics. Machinesin this series range from 50 to 250 tons.

A smaller, 40-ton hydraulic clamping Vr Series machine forprecision molding of small parts at high speed was displayed byFortune as well. Also available in 20 tons, Fortune's small, direct-drivehydraulics come equipped with Victor-Taichung's V-8000A controllerand variable-displacement pumping.

HPM sources say they have added more than 25 new features tothe list of standards on the second-generation of its 60- to 560-tonChinese-built toggles. HPM's Universal IIs are more robust andrepeatable, and come fully loaded, including multilingual Command4500 Series controls with bigger screens and enhanced scalability.Process options include license-free gas-assist systems from AllianceGas Systems, and Gas Counter-Pressure (GCP) technology developedby M&C Advanced Processes, a Textron subsidiary.

NPE was the first showing of Kawaguchi's latest floatinGPintoggles. These KX Series machines are available from 100 to 400tons, but by year's end, they'll cover the 50- to 720-ton range.Features include EZ-2000 computer controls with an all-in-onepage that can be displayed on its thin-film transistor (TFT) LCDscreen. A 140-ton model molded marbleized parts at the show, anda 180-tonner demonstrated high-speed molding. Both were equippedwith Kawaguchi parts-removal robots.

LG International debuted a number of design upgrades made toits GoldStar-H series of direct-drive hydraulic clamping machines.They sport a more contemporary fit and finish and a new hydraulic-circuitoption for overlapping filling and mold opening. It joins an energy-savingstandard-the LG Hydromatch system. The LG Hydromatch enables theH Series' Hicom controller to select the proper pump during molding.GoldStar-H machines now also feature a wear-resistant bimetalliccylinder and a barrier screw designed to increase plasticatingcapacity while enabling faster cycles.

MHI brought models of the MSJ Series smaller-tonnage, direct-clampingstraight hydraulics (90 to 500 tons), and its larger, hydromechanicalMMJs (610 to 1200 tons). MSJs are designed for reduced energyconsumption and steady-state repeatability. MSJs up to 320 tonshave high-efficiency variable-displacement pumping systems andthree-way part removal. Mitsubishi's MAC-VII controls are standardon the smaller MSJs. Bigger MMJs are built to have a footprintthat's 22 percent smaller than most others.

Sumitomo has added smaller 55- and 88-ton models to its U.S.-builtSHC series of high-performance, general-purpose hydraulic- andhydromechanical-clamping machines, now available from 55 to 385tons. Both of the straight-hydraulic models feature closed loopcontrol of velocity and pressure through direct digital controlof the variable-volume pumps, which are supported by advanced-technologyfeedback devices.

The precision repeatability provided by the feature-rich SHCSeries was demonstrated on an 88-ton Model SH80C molding .12-oznylon 6/6 security seals designed with tight-tolerance lockingteeth. A larger 110-ton hydromechanical Model SH100C molded .13-ozPP 25-mesh filters. Another, even larger hydromechanical, a 176-tonModel SH160C, molded .62-oz automotive actuator housings.

NEW TOGGLES,HYDRAULICS

TMC of America shone its NPE 2000 spotlight through a 150-tonmodel in its second-generation E2 series of sturdy five-pointtoggles (66 to 1100 tons). That's because E2s feature see-thoughguarding, fore-and-aft, port-and-starboard. The spotlights alsoshowed off the guarding's rigid aluminum trim.

Bosch, Nachi, and Mannesmann Rexroth valving; Vickers pumps;Siemens electronics; and screwtip assemblies from U.S. Valvesand Brownlee are among the E2's components. Machines also featureBarber-Colman Maco 4000 controls with B-C's Impact autotuningtechnology. Its controllers also provide closed loop process control,online SPC, and SPI protocol networking.

From Ube's UM series of hydraulically driven toggle-clamp presses(500 to 1500 tons) came a 720-tonner equipped with Alliance GasSystems' gas-assist technology, molding PS TV cabinets. UM machinesfeature a compact, fast, energy-saving clamp design; robustlysupported platens; feature-rich shooters; and Ube's latest Humma-Xtouch-screen interface, which was jointly developed with XycomAutomation.

Van Dorn Demag introduced more than its new swoosh-V logo andfresh paint on its presses. It introduced, among other things,the new Integra series of small- to mid-size five-point toggles(140 to 625 tons). Built on Mannesmann Plastics Machinery's modularpress platform and equipped with standards found as options onothers-like robot interfacing, core pull, and configurable I/Os-fullyclosed loop Integras are designed to bring enhanced toggle technologyand special-application capabilities to the general-purpose moldingmachine market.

The Integra made its debut in two sizes-140- and 280-ton models.The 140, equipped with a Tecnomagnete magnetic mold mounting system,ran 2.18-oz HIPS cosmetic cases in four-cavity tooling in 19-secondcycles. The 280 ran a 32-cavity Caco Pacific mold equipped withCaco's Smart Mold control system. Small, 2.4-oz HDPE spouts wererun in 7-second cycles. Coming Integras include all-electric versions,multicomponent models, gas-assist and LSR systems, and high-speedracers. Features include shot sizes from 4.1 to 139 oz, injectionrates managed by VDD's Adaptive Process Control system, optionalelectric screw drive, two energy-efficient DFE smart pumps, andVDD's Digital Feed Forward technology, which anticipates clampposition to safely reach the stop position.

With the introduction of its 500- and 730-ton models that joinan 880-tonner, VDD has completed development of its high-performanceSpectra series of straight hydraulics, the successor to its midrangeHP Series. Spectra features include injection process controlby a three-port valve that combines the best of proportional andservovalve technology, a wide platen to allow for larger injectionunits and tooling, and full tiebar support for stack molds.

At NPE, the 500- and 730-ton Spectras were on show. The 730-tonnermolded a Lincoln Mark VIII grill using the Textron Gas CounterPressure (GCP) system. The 500-ton Spectra produced nestable storagebins, and featured an energy-efficient variable-speed pump drivethat matches motor speed to hydraulic oil needs.

TWIN-PLATENPRESSES

Chen Hsong Machinery leaves it up to its customers to decidewhether they would prefer two-platen or three-platen hydromechanicalmachines. It offers both in its Jetmaster JM-D Series-550 to 3200metric tons in twins, and 550- to 3100-ton triplets.

A space-saving Model JM550-D Chen Hsong two-plate special wason show in Chicago. It comes with multiple-pump, proportional/cartridgehydraulics backed by proprietary speed and pressure matching circuitry.The show machine had the Jetmaster Series' standard CH-3.5PC controls,made for Chen Hsong in Japan. They speak English, as well as Chineseand Japanese. The controls also have a pushbutton interface andserial ports for communicating with PCs. Chen Hsong exhibitedits 550-ton two-platen interfaced to gas-assist equipment fromAlliance Gas Systems.

Ferromatik Milacron's latest two-platen Maxima machine, a 550-tonner,combines a small footprint (306 by 100 by 92.5 inches) with shortcycle times and energy conservation. Milacron's PC-based Xtreemcontrol system is standard. The NPE Maxima demo also showcasedan optional electric screw drive and the color mixing capabilitiesof the company's MeltStar barrier screw. The optional electricscrew drive complements the machine's short tonnage-build time-about.5 second-and its already fast clamp speed of 30 in/sec, allowingsimultaneous clamp, eject, and plasticating functions at highspeeds.

HPM sources report that they have Americanized the design ofthe Next Wave Series hydromechanical, retractable tiebar presses(600 to 5000 tons). The machines now come equipped with HPM'smodular, twin-cylinder injection unit. Lower cost and more responsivecombination fixed/variable-volume pumping systems also are nowused, as is HPM's Barber-Colman-based Command 4500C machine control.

LG International (America) brought two of its big GoldStarM Series twin-platen hydromechanicals to the show, a 500-tonnerand a 950-tonner. Both are designed to have footprints 20 percentsmaller than a comparably sized, conventional three-platen press.And, thanks to a special high-pressure hydraulic system in theclamp, M Series machines use half the oil of a three-plater.

Molding Machinery Systems (Dillsboro, IN) reps Nissin's lineof general-purpose presses. Sources at MMS tell us twin-platenpresses have been developed at the company's HQ in Taiwan. Italso has a first-generation all-electric to add to its line, whichincludes PET preform and TS molding systems. PET preforming wasa highlight of its Taiwan neighbor Nan Rong's booth at TaipeiPlas'99.At NPE was a 250-ton model of Nan Rong's TNR-LCD line of high-speedtoggles for thin-wall molding, equipped with full accumulatorassist.

MHI introduced North American molders to the ultracompact third-generationdesign of its pioneering MMI Series hydromechanical two-platenmolding machines (1450 to 4400 tons). More than 600 MMIs havebeen shipped since being introduced in 1989. MAC-VI color CRTcontrols are standard, as are the company's UB screw, jet-purgecircuitry for fast setups and color changes, and a high-torquehydraulic screw drive. MMIs feature a large clamping stroke andprecise cavity-pressure profile control that render the machinea good choice for inmold decorating systems, like low-pressureskin-insert molding.

Both Van Dorn Demag's direct-hydraulic Spectra and its hydromechanical,twin-platen Caliber machines now feature a new, twin cylinderinjection unit for shot sizes greater than 166 oz. At NPE, VanDorn Demag's twin cylinder unit was shown on an 1100-ton twin-platenCaliber. Its twin cylinder shooters come with a built-in powerswivel, easing screw changes. Other technical features includea barrel and screw package of 23,500 to 32,000 psi, a high-torquehydraulic motor option for stiff materials, and an electric screwdrive option.

All-Electrics

Toshiba had seven machines in its booth. Six were a-c servoall-electrics. Four were being shown in the States for the firsttime. Nissei brought 15 machines to Chicago; only six were hydraulics.Van Dorn Demag sources said they hope to have their first all-electricIntegra toggle ready in time for the Plastec West 2001 Expo inAnaheim next January. All-electrics are multiplying.

A Niigata source says 70 percent of his company's businessis in all-electric machines these days. "Aside from savingenergy and all the other benefits, there's no water or oil. That$400/year in PM you save can go into buying other things, likeheater bands or thermocouples. And the plant's air-conditioningcosts are halved with all-electrics. Hydraulic machines are heatsources."

Toshiba demonstrated a high-speed 90-ton all-electric at NPE'97that cycled at 3.2 seconds. A Toshiba 110-ton servomolding machineat NPE 2000 ran in 2.6-second cycles. Nissei ran LCP connectorsin two-cavity tooling on its ES200H all-electric at IPF'99 atcycles just less than 2 seconds. Nissei ran them at NPE on thesame basic system, upgraded with Nissei's new center-drive servomotorsfor its injection and clamping unit, at .68-second cycles. MilacronFanuc's newest has a maximum acceleration of 13G. All-electricsare getting better.

GENERAL-PURPOSEALL-ELECTRICS

Engel stunned NPE 2000 show-goers with its Model ES 650/110TL SEL, a 110-ton all-electric tiebarless press. It silently rana 64-cavity medical pipette mold mounted on a 29.14-inch-wideextended platen with digital repeatability.

Fortune International introduced North America to Victor'sV-alpha all-electric. The 50-ton demo model it had on show isfrom a series that includes four models from 50 to 180 tons. V-alphasfeature a novel toggle clamping system design. Four Japanese servomotorsdrive two ballscrews and a timing belt to open and close the movingplaten. The platen rides on low-drag roller-bearing supports.The servodriven injection unit uses a single ballscrew and isaccurate to within .01 mm. A Swiss load cell sensor accuratelymonitors injection pressure and backpressure.

JSW's J-EL II Series all-electric presses are getting bigger.A 500-ton Model J500ELII-890 was demonstrated producing PP DVDcases in 8-second cycles in four-cavity tooling. With a generousopening stroke and a sturdy clamp design, this press is readyto handle big multicavity tools. Like the smaller 200-tonner moldingairline drinking cups at NPE, the largest JSW machines featurea servodrive system with a servo amplifier JSW engineered andbuilt itself to provide continuous, shockless pressure control.It also eliminates peak pressure immediately before switchover,effectively reducing flash and warp.

As promised at IPF'99 in Japan, Kawaguchi introduced its prototypeKXE Series all-electric machine to North American molders. A prototype50-ton model was on display.

Milacron's all-electric Powerline 550 machine was demonstratedmolding ordinary 5-gal buckets. Equipped with Milacron's patentedtwo-stage all-electric injection unit and its Xtreem control,the Powerline 550 is one of seven models in Milacron's latestglobal platform line of all-electric molding machines, availablefrom 220 to 935 U.S. tons.

The newest and biggest Powerline also was on show. This low-profile935-tonner featured a direct-connect rack-and-pinion clamp drivedesigned to quickly and quietly mold larger automotive, appliance,and houseware products. It has a wide-platen configuration toaccommodate the bigger stuff. Tiebar spacing is 1250 by 1000 mm.Milacron's two-stage injection unit, with a maximum shot of 150oz standard, providing a maximum injection pressure of 30,000psi.

MHI exhibited its new Mitsubishi ME Series all-electrics. Thesefive-point toggle presses (350, 450, and 550 tons), which debutedat IPF'99, are driven by servomotors built by a sister companyin the Mitsubishi Group. The clamp stops in .03 mm, vs. 1.0 mmfor its hydraulics. A short crosshead stroke in the clamp mechanismhelps saves floor space. With two injection servomotors, the seriesprovides high injection rates and pressures. With a 62-mm-diameterscrew, the 350-tonner injects at rates up to 485 cu cm/sec. Generousplaten and tiebar sizes and a UB Series screw for enhanced plasticatingare other features. Multilingual MAC-VII controls, Mitsubishi'slatest, are standard.

Niigata's latest entry is a 500-ton model, the MD500 S-III,available from stock. It comes with networkable RISC computercontrols and provides constant pressure fill, even when cyclephases overlap. Other machines in Niigata's all-electric boothincluded a Model MD200S-III. It ran a mold electrified by Hydradynewith a servodriven core pull. An MD85S-III demonstrated its ±.0005-inchpositioning, and a smaller model, an MD55S-II, was equipped witha touch-screen control.

Among other general-purpose models in Nissei's nine-machine,all-electric lineup were the following:

Toshiba's four new EC Series all-electrics include 22-, 176-,242-, and 385-ton versions. Larger 500- and 610-ton ECs are indevelopment. The smallest machine, the EC20, was a booth highlight.It featured Toshiba's patented deflection-free frame design, whichincorporates a boss on the side of the free-riding platen thatequalizes pressures to ensure platen parallelism. The EC20, alsoequipped with Toshiba's optional 300-mm/sec high-speed injectionmotor, was demonstrated molding optical connectors in two-cavitytooling. A digital optical comparator in its cell automaticallyinspected the size and shape of each part to prove the press wasrunning deflection-free.

Ube Machinery had several of its Ultima UN Series all-electricson show in Chicago. In the GP category, a 55-tonner equipped withan RJG inmold monitoring system and a Star robot molded electricconnectors in four-cavity tooling. And a 200-ton model moldeda 12-inch ruler in crystal PS that had gas channels running throughit to improve structural strength.

HybridMachines

Rather than succumb to what one top company official refersto as the "all-electric mass hysteria," Husky has optedfor the use of an all-electric injection screw drive. Husky andothers have targeted electric servomotor use at the screw drive(the biggest energy consumer on the press) and in other selectareas where they feel servos will be of true benefit. But theystill prefer the performance of fluid power to top things off."You achieve similar energy savings and operational cleanlinessto all-electrics, but maintain the versatility, speed, and powerof hydraulics," said the official.

Husky demonstrated an accumulator-assisted 90-ton model inits new Hylectric series of hybrid presses, which are based onits generic S Series machine platform. It was molding connectorsat the show. Complementing the electrified screw on its Hylectric,servopowered by systems from Baumüller Nürnberg GmbH(Nürnberg, Germany), was Husky's latest in high-performancehydraulics, including a water-cooled motor. Baumüller alsosupplies the servodrives in molding machines from Battenfeld andEngel, and robots from Wittmann, among others.

Meiki America imported a 130-ton model in its Nadem seriesof hybrids, first introduced at IPF'99. As it was at the Tokyoshow, the Nadem 1200-DM in Chicago was equipped with closed loopdegating and an in-hopper recycling system. A platen-mounted,jointed-arm servo robot degated parts and fed the sprues and runnersto an in-hopper grinder that proportioned the recyclate directlyback into the virgin material stream.

Nadem Series machines are equipped with a single servodrivenballscrew mechanism to move the platen. A reservoir carries thesmall amount of oil the system draws on to generate maximum clampingforce. Meiki officials say that servodriven direct-pressure clampingprovides better mold protection and longer mold life than toggleclamping, among several other benefits.

Nadem machines also come equipped with all-electric injectionunits. The model at NPE was capable of 29,000 psi injection pressure.The company plans to eventually bring the direct-pressure clampingsystem to its popular optical media molding presses.

Electric screw drives are now standard across the entire SynErgyline of Netstal presses. Netstal prefers the speed and pressureprovided by accumulator-assisted hydraulics to deliver the kindof performance customers have come to expect from presses bearingthe SynErgy marque. Officials say they expect to sell more than500 SynErgys this year.

In the global debut of Netstal's 660-ton SynErgy, the cell'shigh-speed CBW robot was hard-pressed to pace the 4.7-second cyclesof the 8+8 Tradesco stack mold running 16-oz PP containers. An88-ton SynErgy hybrid nearby ran pipette tips in a 32-cavity Tannermold at cycles of less than 6 seconds, exhibiting Netstal's revivedcommitment to serving North American medical markets.

Van Dorn Demag demonstrated similar hybrid electric screw drivetechnologies and accumulator-assisted high-speed molding on a500-ton HT Series toggle running 32-oz stadium cups. CBW alsoprovided the robotics required by the VDD cell.

Vertical/Inserts

Autojectors' new Evolution Series vertical-clamp insert moldingpresses are engineered to provide greater speed and flexibility,more control capabilities, and better operator-friendliness-allat less cost than similarly sized models. The first 30- and 80-tonEvolution Series insert models made their global debut at NPE.

In addition to a number of major machine improvements-includingup to 40 percent more mold space than its predecessors, a smallerfootprint, better hydraulics, and light curtains as standard-Evolutionpresses also feature Autojectors' new VerteX control, based onMilacron's Xtreem control. The VerteX offers fast and precisemachine operations, total cell control, and Ethernet/WindowsNTcompatibility.

Boy Machines featured an a-c servodriven rotary indexing systemfor insert molding developed together with Panzer Tool Works.Called Rotoslide, the design includes a CNC ballscrew that, aftersafety conditions are met, slides the system in or out on a ballbearing guide, rotates the table to the next station, slides forward,and continues the sequence. Boy will offer the Rotoslide withits Boy 22 machines (24 tons), with horizontal or vertical injection.

Illinois Precision Corp. (IPC) displayed the speed and precisionof its stainless steel, all-electric rotary-index turntable onits latest all-vertical, the TTM-BCCL 12-ton hydromechanical insertmolding press. The machines actually mold parts equivalent toa 25-ton machine, thanks to the lever action of the book molds,and the short sprue and runner systems.

IPC's four-station table turns 90° in a single second.Running just two tools with a 10-second mold/ hold duration, the25-tonner can deliver 300 shots/hr. IPC bases its machine controlleron a Barber-Colman Maco system, providing full closed loop injectionand SPC data logging capabilities, plus autotuning of heats, pressures,and speed. Three-sided light curtain guards are standard. Threemodels are available in the series, based on the degree of desiredcontrol sophistication. Shot capacity is 1 or 2 oz.

JSW is helping to lead the all-electric invasion into the verticalmachine marketplace, as evidenced by the Model JT44RELII-55V.Every action on the press is servodriven to repeatable precision,including its bell-crank toggle mechanism, its turntable, andits twin-ballscrew injection motor. The low-profile rotary tablemakes it easier to automatically set up and transfer parts. Italso features JSW's proprietary servodrive technology, as do itshorizontals.

The horizontal Brazilian-built Reed-Romi TR 330 running a Plastoolmold got top billing at the much-heralded return of Reed-Prentice.But Reed also displayed a version of its latest-generation vertical-clampDuplimatic. A Model VS100 Duplimatic shuttle table press was shown,equipped with light-curtain guards, variable-volume proportionalhydraulics from Bosch, and a machine controller based on Allen-Bradley'sSLC 5/04P microprocessor. These C-frame molding systems also areavailable in 35 and 75 tons.

A highli