November Technology Roundup: Mold Materials & Miscellaneous

New software updates are said to add 50 operational and ease-of-use features to the line of OB7 collaborative robots from Absolute Machine Tools’ partner Productive Robotics. The software updates enhance the cobots’ connectivity, expedite efficient integration with other equipment and facilitate real-time status monitoring.

Full product post: Cobot Software Update Adds and Improves Operational Features

Molder’s World Inc. announces the development and availability  of its next-generation Vortex, a self-venting mold steel specifically designed for injection molding applications. When compared to its predecessor, Porcerax II, Molder’s World says the Vortex is roughly 10% harder (43 HRc average), stronger (TR: 834 MPa), and less expensive.

Full product post: Self-Venting Mold Steel Designed for Injection Molding Applications

Maximizing productivity while keeping personnel safely distanced is the main goal of Slide Products’ Freedom automatic spray unit. The plug-and-play system, said to handle repetitive spraying tasks, is considered an economical and reliable unit to help minimize movement of personnel on the manufacturing floor and maintain distance.

Full product post: Automatic Spray Unit Enables Increased Personnel Safety

The Hasco nozzle range has recently been extended with the highly-efficient, and low-cost, Single Shot H6300 nozzle series, which provides a wide range of nozzle variants to allow a straightforward feed into a sub-runner or direct gating to the molded part.

Full product post: Single Shot Nozzle Focuses on Efficiency, Low Cost, Functionality

Marposs Corp. has added the IPC4 compact operator panel to serve as a user interface for its Genior Modular monitoring system tools. The IPC4 is said to be pre-configured with visualization software to serve as a user interface for the Artis GEMCMS02.

Full product post: Compact Operator Panel Added to Process Monitoring System Family

To meet the digitalization challenges of Industry 4.0, United Grinding Digital Solutions is said to enhance manufacturing productivity and production availability while easing process tasks. Built as a modular suite of services, the company presents its Digital Solutions to strengthen manufacturing's transformation to data-driven efficiency.

Full product post: Digital Solutions Service Suite Strengthens Industry 4.0 Manufacturing

Steel 21’s patented process for manufacturing flat and parallel steel plates, 21 Micro Milling, holds A36/4140 grade steel plates on average 3 times more flat and parallel and 5 times smoother. Feedback received from toolmakers also indicate that Steel 21’s plates shortens their build times by nearly 15%.

Full product post: Steel Plate Manufacturing Process Enables Easier, More Accurate Installation of Components

United Grinding North America’s Studer S33 CNC universal cylindrical grinding machine handles individual, small-batch, and large-scale production of short to long workpieces and it is said to grind complex workpiece geometries in a single clamping. Paired with an integrated flexLoad loader and robot, the versatile S33 provides a fully flexible solution with easy programming and reduced setup times.

Full product post: Universal Cylindrical Grinding Machine Grinds Versatile Workpiece Lengths

Hasco recently improved its P1 plates, which are machined on all sides and are said to fulfill all the requirements of modern moldmaking. All the plates are produced in European steel, with a parallelism of 0.02/100 mm and a peak to valley height of Rz 10 µm. 

Full product post: Injection Mold Machined Plates Boost Flexibility

According to GROB Systems, the company’s new Access Series five-axis machining centers are said to promise the best machining quality for individual and series production while offering cost-conscious entry into GROB technology. Featuring two U.S.-built basic models G350a and G550a, these two machines are said to offer almost unlimited application possibilities in milling applications and remain flexibly adaptable to suit every requirement.

Full product post: Five-Axis Machining Centers Promote Flexible Machining Applications

Steel service supplier International Mold Steel (IMS) has recently grown its service capabilities to include offering laser engraving services in-house to its customers. With the addition of a customized ID1-NGRV machine from Alliance Laser Sales, IMS says it can quickly and safely engrave steel with any information that will enable customers to better identify, track or brand their product. 

Full product post: Expanded Service Capabilities Include Tool Steel Laser Engraving

United Grinding North America’s Blohm PROFIMAT MC high-performance heavy-duty traveling-column grinding center is said to offer the capabilities modern production environments require for various industries and applications. The 5-axis, space-saving machine includes an automatic tool changer with up to 24 tools and offers multiple spindle configurations.

Full product post: Traveling-Column Grinding Center Excels in Modern Production Environments

The release of Siemens Digital Industries Software’s Parasolid open software technology for geometric modeling is said to enable the solving of the most difficult technical challenges and improves upon 3D printing and scanning-based workflow with new tools for Convergent Modeling and lattice structures.

Full product post: Open Software Technology Refines 3D Printing and Scanning Workflows

Uddeholm USA features its next-generation Tyrax ESR stainless steel mold designed for a pressure ESR (P-ESR) manufacturing process that enables longer tool life, and faster polishing for reliable production of high-performance plastic parts. With a hardness capability of 58 HRC, the company says its product is the best in its class for toughness, corrosion and wear resistance. 

Full product post: Stainless Mold Steel Exceeds Toughness, Corrosion and Wear Resistance

DP Technology highlights a comprehensive product update, the ESPRIT 2020, for its computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software. According to the company, among the most significant developments, are updates to the software’s CAD interfaces and new or improved solutions for specific machine tools.

Full product post: Comprehensive CAM Software Update Highlights Improved Support and Machine Tool Solutions

Between the Mägerle MFP 30 5-axis grinding center’s ability to process complex geometries, the machine’s space-saving design and production-flow efficiency, United Grinding’s latest product is ideal for a versatile range of applications.

With a powerful 12,000-rpm spindle, the company says Mägerle MFP 30 enables shops to combine grinding processes, including creep feed grinding with corundum or grinding with CBN. 

Full product post: Five-Axis Grinding Center Delivers Flexible Workpiece Processing

Kruse Training Inc., a developer of interactive online training programs for injection molders, part and mold designers and process engineers, partnered with Moldex3D to launch its Molding Defects Level 2 interactive training section to its Circle of Knowledge online training program.

The self-paced, interactive, step-by-step training builds on the company’s Level 1 online training, which was released in 2018 and offers training in molding fundamentals, polymer materials, part and mold design and processing.

Full product post: Molding Defects Interactive Training Offered for Injection Molding Engineers

Michmar Engineering announces the EZ Slider, which eliminates the need for traditional slide and lifter components. The component simplifies 2D machining with no need for complex angular machining set ups. The slider replaces expensive hydraulic cylinders, external limit switches, mounting plates, and it eliminates the manufacture time and materials for additional components. 

Full product post: EZ Slider Eliminates Need for Traditional Slide and Lifter Components