Technology focus: Smart LSR cell

Schwertberg, Austria – Austrian machinery maker Engel has developed a liquid silicone rubber (LSR) application combining automated production and post-processing in a single cell.

The system is being showcssed during Chinaplas – held in Shanghai 21-24 April – producing sealing mats for waterproof electrical connectors used in e-vehicles – on an all-electric e-win 1800 injection moulding machine with 1,800 kN clamping force.

The display application features eight cavities, a shot weight of 37.8g and a cycle time of 59 seconds, according to Engel.

The “fully automated” cell is equipped with an integrated linear robot, which removes components from the mould using a brush system designed for “gentle demoulding.”

Process control is supported by a digital assistance technology, said to monitor LSR viscosity in real-time and “automatically adjust the injection volume within the same shot.”

Engel said the system reduced variation in the application by 62%, contributing to “more stable process control, reproducible component quality and reduced scrap.”