CNC Programmer Jobs in Plastic Mold Making
Without the CNC programmer, any modern plastic mold making operation grinds to a complete stop-quickly! Just consider for a moment just how many machines use the CNC programmer.
The CNC programmer might work on programming a 5-axis CNC milling machine, WEDM machine, CNC EDM sinker, laser cutting machine, CNC lathe, and more. He also might be responsible for the programming of electrodes for the EDM machine, among other things.
A CNC programmer needs to understand nearly every aspect of plastic mold making to be truly efficient. In fact, most CNC programmers have extensive practical experience in the shop. Many apprentices who show an inclination for programming end up as a CNC programmer.
Most injection mold making shops have CNC programmer jobs available at almost any given time. This is especially true for someone with Fadal CNC experience, CNC engraving experience, or is competent with CNC CAD CAM programming.
What about the pay?
Generally, most CNC programmer jobs pay similarly to that of a plastic mold maker. This is true unless the CNC programmer lacks the hands on practical experience from working in the shop. A technical school graduate will find it easier to get the job, but the pay may be less to begin with than that of an apprentice Plastic mould maker who becomes a CNC programmer.
How do you become a CNC programmer?
Basically, there are two routes to take. One is to become an injection mold making apprentice, with the understanding that your main interest is in CNC CAD CAM programming. Over time you will be steered more and more in the direction of CNC programming.
The other route is to take a course designed specifically to learn the skills required to get one of the CNC programmer jobs you are hoping to win. Some technical colleges offer courses; as well as community colleges and universities. This path can land you a job more quickly because you already are partially trained and can begin producing for the company quickly.
One path is not necessarily better than the other in the long run though.
What is a typical day like for a CNC programmer?
Obviously, a greater part of your day is in front of a computer monitor. There are also many times when you will need to be at one of the many machine tools you are programming. This variety can provide a welcome respite from sitting all day in front of a computer screen.
You also will be communicating with the various machine operators, Rapid prototype designers and the mold makers. The work of a CNC programmer touches almost every aspect of the entire mold making process. This can make you a hero, or a villain!
Posted at 09:34AM Feb 04, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Plastic mould |
How to Build Your Own Rapid Prototype Machine
Rapid prototype Comes of Age with This Solid Freeform Fabrication Kit
We've been waiting a long time for a product like this and now it has arrived. For the home user and those who don't have $15,000-$90,000 to drop on a high end rapid prototype unit, the Fabber gives the tools to build your own home manufacturing system that can build just about anything as long as you can design it. Designed by a guy who got tired of losing Lego pieces, the Fabber lets anybody have a desktop Rapid Prototype unit that can manufacture pretty much anything - let's have a look at this dynamic hobby tool.
Solid Freeform Fabrication or Rapid Prototyping has been around for quite a long time now. Many commercial companies offer various type of machines that can manufacture high precision parts out of both plastic or metal to exating tolerances. The downside, they cost anywhere between $15,000 and upwards of $90,000. Some machines can even run up to $500,000.
The Fabber is a joint project started in the Computational Synthesis Lab at Cornell by Dr. Hod Lipson. He initially visualized the Fabber as a tool to reproduce lost Lego pieces. It is a low cost reasonable detail sold freeform modelling or fabrication tool with a build volume of about 512 cubic inches. or an 8" cube.
What the Fabber really represents is a grass-roots approach to what has been a niche product for more than 20 years. As they explain, they are comparing the Fabber to the Altair 8000, one of the first microcomputers and one of the things that triggered the home computer boom back in the mid 1970's. The Fabber even costs about the same with inflation, at about $2300 for parts, whereas the old Plastic mould would have cost about $2000 in today's dollars.
The real beauty of the tool is that it is all made from off-the-shelf components. For a little over $2,000 you can buy the complete kit and put it together, or buy a fully assembled unit from a company called Koba Industries, which has partnered with Fab @ Home to build and sell the product at only a little bit above assembly prices.
The Fabber will take a standard STL file format used by any of the 3D design applications and produce an actual model based on that file. They have used the Fabber to produce a watch with embedded electronics, a working flashlight with circuitry injected, as well as some other really cool things.
This is a brand new technology and certainly not as refined as the high end production machines that can be bought for multi-thousands of dollars. But as a concept, it's something that can be developed and evolved. All it takes is ingenuity and a desire to see how far you can go.
What the Fabber is specifically, is a Solid Free Form Fabrication tool Plastic mold. It uses a lifting table combined with a XY axis stepper motor that guides a print head or engine that contains a number of syringes. Each syringe can hold a different fluid material, and depending on the size of the nozzle, you can potentially use the Fabber to build very small and detailed objects.
Posted at 09:45AM Jan 25, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Plastic mould |
Device for Spraying-on of Especially Plastic Mould
The invention relates to a device forspraying-on of especially plastic Mould, wherein at least one mould cavity to be filled, constructed in a tool is arranged laterally next to a central nozzle body, with at least one nozzle tip arranged in and/or on the nozzle body which projectsoutwards over the circumferential surface of the nozzle body and forms an injection channel for the mould cavity in a recess of the tool and/or the nozzle body, according to the preamble of claim 1.
In known devices of this type, the nozzle tips are fixed in the nozzle body before assembling the tool, generally screwed in. In order to then make it possible to assemble the tool, the tool, that is, the element in which the mould cavities to befilled are arranged, must be segmented and dismountable according to the number of nozzles and mould cavities. This requires, on the one hand, a comparatively high constructive effort and on the other hand, the assembly of the tool is complex andtime-consuming and thereby incurs high costs.
Starting from this prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide a generic device which has a simple structure and is mountable and dismountable in a simple and cheap fashion.
This object is solved by a device according to the teaching of claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
The device according to the invention for spraying-on of especially plastic Mould has, in an initially inherently known fashion, at least one mould cavity to be filled, constructed in a tool which is arranged laterally next to a centralnozzle body, and at least one nozzle tip arranged in and/or on the nozzle body which projects outwards over the circumferential surface of the nozzle body and forms an injection channel for the mould cavity in a recess of the tool and/or the nozzle body.
According to the invention, there is at least one further recess arranged in the area of the bottom of the nozzle body, wherein this recess is provided with at least one through opening which connects the recess to the circumferential surface ofthe nozzle body and wherein the nozzle tip can be inserted through the recess into the opening and can be detachably affixed there. As a result of this structure, during assembly of the tool the nozzle body can initially be inserted into thecorresponding recess of the tool in a more or less form-locking manner without especially projecting nozzle tips, after which the nozzle tips are only then mounted by engagement in the respective mould cavities or the corresponding feed channels. Thus,segmenting of the tool is no longer necessary.
In a fundamentally arbitrary manner an arrangement with only one Plastic mold cavity is feasible. Preferably however, a plurality of nozzle tips is provided and the recess is provided with a number of openings correspond to the number of nozzle tips.
The arrangement of the mould cavities in the tool and thus correspondingly the arrangement of the nozzle tips in the nozzle body is arbitrary. According to one exemplary embodiment however, the nozzle tips are arranged in the nozzle body atleast in groups in a row and/or in the fashion of a triangle, square or a polygon shape. In this case, the arrangement can take place not only in a plane but also spatially offset.
According to a further exemplary embodiment, the nozzle body has at least in sections, a substantially cylindrical shape wherein the openings are arranged such that the nozzle tips project in a substantially star shape in the radial directionfrom the nozzle body. With such an arrangement, a simple, substantially rotationally symmetrical structure of the device is obtained.
The shape of the recess in the bottom of the nozzle body is initially fundamentally arbitrary. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment however, the recess has a substantially dish-shaped cylindrical or polygonal cross-sectional shape witha base running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle body and a side wall running substantially perpendicular thereto. In this case, the openings are preferably arranged substantially in the area of the side wall.
The nozzle tips can be fixed in the nozzle body in an arbitrary fashion. According to one exemplary embodiment, for this purpose the nozzle tips have a flange-, collar- or head-like shoulder on their end opposite the tip, wherein the collarsurface of the head-like shoulder of the nozzle tips pointing towards the side wall of the recess is constructed as a stop face, which can be brought to rest supported on the side wall of the recess. As a result, a precisely axially specified positionof the nozzle tips in the nozzle body is obtained.
The nozzle tips and the through openings are preferably provided at least in sections with substantially cylindrical fitting areas such that the nozzle tips can be inserted into the openings at least substantially free from play. As a result, aprecisely radially specified position of the nozzle tips in the nozzle body is obtained. The terms "axial" and "radial" relate to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle tips.
In order to remove the nozzle tips from the nozzle body during dismantling of the tool or for repair purposes or the like, according to one exemplary embodiment the head-like shoulder has an engagement for a tool with which the nozzle tips can bepulled out of the opening. In this case, the engagement can be formed, for example, by an annular-groove-like indentation surrounding the head-like shoulder at least in sections on its radial outer surface or it can be formed by an inner thread formedin the head surface.
According to a further exemplary embodiment, in the recess between the head-like shoulders of the nozzle tips there is detachably arranged a fixing element whose outer surfaces pointing towards the head surfaces of the nozzle tips are constructedas stop faces on the head surfaces such that when the nozzle tips are mounted and the fixing element is mounted, the head surfaces of the nozzle tips come to rest supported on the stop faces. In other words, this means that this fixing element serves asprotection against unintentional loosening of the nozzle tips by sliding out of the respective opening of the nozzle body into the recess.
The shape of this fixing element is fundamentally arbitrary. For example, this can be constructed as ring-shaped, star-shaped or rod-shaped. Preferably however, the fixing element is constructed as a substantially cylindrical or polygonalfixing block in cross-section, which can be detachably affixed by means of a fixing screw at the bottom of the recess.
According to a further embodiment of the fixing of the nozzle tips in the nozzle body Rapid prototype, the nozzle tips are provided, at least in sections, with an outer thread and the through openings in the nozzle body are provided, at least in sections, withan inner thread complementary thereto so that the nozzle tips can be screwed into the openings. In this case, the head-like shoulder can be constructed in the fashion of a screw head, especially in the fashion of a hollow screw with hexagonal recess.
Posted at 11:02AM Jan 22, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Plastic mould |
Plastic Moulded Bodies,Hard Candies in Innovative Plastic Moulds
A new development from the two companies, namely Kaupert and Winkler, and Dunnebier SuBwarenmaschinen (WDS) enables the casting of hard sugar candies into plastic moulds, allowing candy to be produced in various shapes. The MultiSweet technology provides plastic mould offering a wide variety of shapes and designs for all sugar and sugar-free candy recipes.
The present invention relates to plastic moulded bodies, processes for their production and their use. In particular, the present invention relates to plastic moulded bodies exhibiting a barrier layer of polyvinyl alcohol and a cover layer which his highly suitable for storing liquids containing carbon dioxide and/or sensitive to oxidation.
The use of weight-reducing packaging, particularly in the field of beverage packaging, is increasing continually and the substitution of glass by plastics, in particular by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers, is progressing steadily. However, in order to achieve the properties of glass especially with regard to the gas barrier properties polyethylene terephthalate is satisfactory only if the bottles are correspondingly thick-walled. However, this requires a larger amount of material to be used than would be necessary for static reasons. Apart from involving higher material costs, this has a particularly negative effect at the expense of the desired weight reduction.
For this reason, the use of polyethylene terephthalate containers provided with barrier layers has been suggested in the literature which are to be produced e.g. by means of coextrusion, in the case of which, in the simplest case, a multiple layer sequence, e.g.Rapid prototype /polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/barrier layer/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is produced, or by means of plasma-enhanced vapour deposition processes, preferably with aluminium and/or its oxides, silicon and/or its oxides or carbon as primary layer material.
Although the gas barrier properties of the containers can in this way, basically, be improved, both procedures are poorly suited for practical application because they are, on the one hand, highly cost-intensive and time-consumung as a result of the high cost price of the required machinery, the limited useful life of the machinery and the high sensitivity of the machinery.
Moreover, the mechanical properties of the containers which are achievable in this way are insufficient for day-to-day use. The high mechanical stresses to which the coated containers are subject even during a normal filling and packaging process and even more so during subsequent distribution and in use, frequently lead to impairment of the surface of the barrier layer which in turn drastically reduces the gas barrier effect of the barrier layer.
A first approach to solve these problems is described in the printed document GB 2 337 470 A which proposes reducing the gas permeability of a substrate, such as e.g. a PET bottle, by applying a barrier layer of a first polymer, such as e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, onto the substrate and then protecting the barrier layer against the environment by applying a protective layer of a second polymer with a molecular weight in the region of 5,000 to 50,000 g/mole. As possible materials for the protective layer, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polyester copolymers, polycarbonates, polyolefins, PEN, polyvinyl chloride, polyamides, polypropylene, polystyrene, aliphatic polyketones and/or polyethylene are mentioned.
An advantage of this solution is the use of polyvinyl alcohol as barrier polymer since, on the one hand, exhibits excellent gas barrier properties, in particular vis-a-vis carbon dioxide and oxygen. At the same time, polyvinyl alcohol is classified as an environmentally friendly raw material safe for health which can be used for food packaging without reservations. However, it is a disadvantage that the coated PET bottles obtainable according to GB 2 337 470 are still not able to withstand the strong mechanical stresses during the normal filling and packaging process and later during distribution and in use. On the contrary, cracks in the protective layer are frequently observed after only a short time, which cracks lead to either the protective layer, in some cases even including the barrier layer, peeling off partly or completely and/or the barrier layer becoming detached by contact with water such as e.g. water of condensation, water vapour etc., as a result of which the desired barrier effect is almost completely lost.
In view of this state of the art, it was thus the task of the present invention to provide Plastic mold bodies with as low a gas permeability, in particular to oxygen and carbon dioxide, as possible, which moulded bodies simultaneously exhibit as high a mechanical stability and durability as possible such that they withstand the strong mechanical stresses during the normal filling and packaging process and later during distribution and use. In particular, the plastic moulded bodies should exhibit gas barrier properties which are almost unchanged even after prolonged use.
Posted at 10:58AM Jan 21, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Plastic mould |
Vietnam-Denmark JV Future for Plastic Moulds Exports
Section: Regional News - Denmark's WBL A/S and local firm An Lap Co., Ltd. last week established a joint venture to build a plastic mould production plant in Ho Chi Minh City.
Viedam Engineering, the joint venture between the two firms, has an investment capital of US$3 million, with each side contributing 50%. Its plant has a total area of 2,500 square metres, a capacity of 300 moulds per year and 60 technicians.
"Through this co-operation, the capability of producing plastic moulds in Vietnam will continue to develop and the company will be able to rapidly supply a large number of high-quality plastic moulds of different types,"
GTMA is taking a leading role in a new EU-funded project which aims to transform the plastics industry across Europe. The result will be 'intelligent' Rapid prototype using knowledge engineering techniques to pass information right across the supply chain.
EMOLD is a three year research project devised by a group of European Trade Associations - which includes GTMA. Their collective view is that the European plastic converting industry, to maintain its competitive and leadership position, must concentrate on added value technology. The project thus addresses the critical issues of higher labour and tooling costs, and its aim is to completely redefine the plastic injection process.
GTMA's Julia Moore explains: 'The project proposes a new concept of plastic injection processes in which moulds will pass from being passive elements to becoming networked active elements with embedded knowledge. The project is one of the most important we have ever been involved in; and GTMA companies will be among the first to know about results and the breakthroughs as and when they happen.'
The shopfloors of Europe could be using 'intelligent' moulds by 2009. These tools will be the link for the knowledge flow in the total life cycle of the plastic product to all the players: parts designers, mould makers, injection moulders, final customers, recyclers etc.
To achieve this the project has established these objectives:
* To design mechatronic moulds equipped with sensors and mechatronic devices, so that moulds become 'living' and 'intelligent' agents of the plastic supply chain.
* To integrate these mechatronic Plastic mold in networks, so that, although separated by large distances, they will be managed by an embedded system and will send the required information to plastic supply chain participants.
Posted at 02:55PM Jan 20, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Plastic mould |
Process for Making a Plasitic Moulded Article with a Decorated Surface
Processes for making a plastic mould article with a decorated surface includes introducing a decorated film in a mould, and filling of the mould with a plastic composition by means of injection moulding. The decorated film is preferably at least one layer consisting essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer containing polyether segments.
The plastic composition is preferably injection moulded to form a moulded article thereof having openings therethrough which are covered by the decorated film. In especially preferred embodiments, the moulded article is a housing front for a cellular telephone.
Claims
1. Process for making a plastic moulded article with a decorated surface, comprising the steps of.(a) introducing in a mould a decorated film which comprises at least one layer consisting essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer containing polyether segments; and(b) filling of the mould with a plastic composition by means of injection moulding to form a moulded article of the plastic composition having openings therethrough which openings are covered by the decorated film.
2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the moulded article is a housing front for a cellular telephone.
3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has a hardness of 30-75 Shore D.
4. Process according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is a copolyether ester.
5. Process according to claim 4, wherein the copolyether ester contains hard segments that are essentially based on Rapid prototype polybutylene terephthalate.
6. Process according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer contains soft segments derived from poly(tetramethylene oxide)glycol or ethylene oxide-terminated poly(propylene oxide)glycol.
7. Process according to claim 1, wherein the film is decorated by means of sublimation printing.
8. Process according to claim 1, wherein the film is transparent or translucent.
9. Process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one layer is a foamed film with a closed cell structure.
10. Process according to claim 1, wherein the film consists of a single layer consisting essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer containing polyether segments.
11. Process according to claim 1, wherein the film comprises at least two layers, of which at least an outer layer consists essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer containing polyether segments and which has been provided with decorations.
12. Process according to claim 11, wherein the at least two layers both consist essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer containing polyether segments, but of different hardness.
13. Process according to claim 1, wherein a plastic composition is used that is based on a polymer that is compatible or miscible with the thermoplastic elastomer containing polyether segments.
14. Process according to claim 13, wherein the plastic composition is based on a thermoplastic polyester and/or a polycarbonate, and the thermoplastic elastomer is a copolyether ester.
15. Process according to claim 14, wherein the plastic composition is a blend of bisphenol-A polycarbonate and acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene copolymers.
16. Process according to claim 1, wherein the film is laser-markable.
17. Process according to claim 1, wherein the plastic composition is laser-markable.
18. A Plastic mold article which comprises an injection-moulded part having holes, and a decorated film layer adhered to the injection-molded part and covering the holes thereof, wherein the decorated film layer comprises at least one layer consisting essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer containing polyether segments.
19. A plastic moulded article according to claim 18 in the form of a housing front for a cellular telephone.
20. A plastic moulded article according to claim 18, wherein the decorated film layer has soft touch and/or non-slip properties.
21. A plastic moulded article according to claim 18, wherein the decorated film layer is laser-marked.
Posted at 03:55PM Jan 19, 2010 Read More... by Rebecca in Plastic mould |
