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[July 2003]
ARBURG to Show Specialist Injection Moulding System for Micro-Parts
ARBURG GmbH & Co (Lossburg, Germany) has announced that it will demonstrate a specialist injection moulding system for manufacturing micro gear wheels at the Ceramitec exhibition in September.
The micro-parts will be produced using a powder injection moulding process and are small yet robust. These micro gear wheels are injection moulded from metal powder. The micro powder injection moulding process (micro PIM) is said to be gaining in significance as the requirements for micro-mechanical components continue to increase.
The machine configuration on show at Ceramitec was developed as part of a project set up to demonstrate the potential of the micro PIM process involving ARBURG, Kugele (a company specialising in moulds for injection moulding) and the Institute of Machine Tools and Production Science (wbk) at the University of Karlsruhe. The wbk provided the automation solutions for the process within the framework of its research.
The combined machine/robot which will be on show comprises an ALLROUNDER 320 C 500-100 and a MULTILIFT H to automatically remove and set down the parts. The operating range of the robot is fenced off to prevent unauthorised access. Once they have been removed, the parts are automatically set down or palletised. A video system monitors and records the process to ensure the flawless state of every micro-part produced.
The sintered gear wheel has a diameter of 1.2mm and 12 involute, i.e. rounded, teeth. In order to manufacture this type of part, maximum precision is required throughout the process, even on the components used. ARBURG says that this is provided for in every respect by smooth series production.
The metal powder-based moulding material and a thermoplastic binder are processed as normal on an injection moulding machine, i.e. they enter a mould cavity and are later demoulded. Once the green compact exits the machine, it is forwarded automatically for subsequent processing. Between 60% and 95% of its binding element is removed before the metal part undergoes burning in the sintering furnace, a process which compresses it to its final size and restores its original material properties.
ARBURG was able to bring not only its expertise in machine technology and robotic systems to the project but also its many years of experience in the manufacture and post-processing of powder-based parts.
Web site: www.arburg.com
ENDS