Matthew Naitove Contributing Editor
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Where Robots Are Headed
If the big show in Chicago was any indicator, linear servo drives and jointed-arm designs may be the next trends in robots for injection molding.
Read MoreLagging Behind in the Productivity Race
Exactly two years ago, I discussed here some surprising statistics in Contributions of Plastics to the U.S. Economy 1997, a report from the Society of the Plastics Industry in Washington, D.C.
Read MoreNPE Just Gets Bigger and Better
This month’s show in Chicago was my tenth NPE, and it was by far the most impressive and enjoyable.
Read MoreFrom NPE 2000: Injection Molding Preview
The abundance of injection molding news at this year’s show is staggering. There are more and bigger all-electric machines than ever, including first-time introductions by several suppliers. Electric technology is also taking new forms, such as beltless drives and “direct-pressure” clamping without a toggle. Energy-saving electro-hydraulic hybrids are also evolving.
Read MoreYour Key to NPE
If you are one of the 80,000-plus people planning to attend NPE 2000 in Chicago this month, you will see first-hand many of the most exciting new products available to plastics processors anywhere in the world.
Read MoreTeach Your Children Plastics
The surest way to alleviate the chemo-phobia that afflicts a large part of the public is through early education. By chemo-phobia I mean the predisposition to believe any scare story about hazards to health or the environment caused by the chemical industry or its products. Of course, those include plastics.
Read MoreNew All-Electric Machines Are Faster & Smarter
The new Roboshot i Series electric presses from Fanuc Ltd. in Japan will be introduced here at NPE 2000 by Milacron Fanuc, Batavia, Ohio.
Read MoreRe-Creating Injection Molding
In my 28 years of observing injection molding technology, I have been lucky to witness two innovations that deserve to be called revolutionary.
Read MoreRetractable-Tiebar Machine Is ‘Americanized’and Toggle Presses Get Upgrades
At an open house last month, HPM Corp., Mt. Gilead, Ohio, announced improvements to two injection machine lines. First, the original design of the company’s NextWave two-platen, retractable-tiebar presses has been “Americanized.” HPM acquired the design when it bought Hemscheidt of Germany in 1997. Second, in response to customer feedback, HPM has made about 20 modifications to its economically priced universal toggle machines. More than 100 of these presses have been sold since their introduction at NPE ’97. Both machine lines will be displayed in June at NPE 2000 in Chicago.
Read MoreNot Just for News Junkies
Don’t be afraid of hurting my feelings. I want the unvarnished truth. Have you ever tuned in to the “Today’s News” section of our website (www.ptonline.com)? Did you like what you saw? Do you check out “Today’s News” regularly?
Read MoreMolders' Guide to Do-It-Yourself Robot Tooling
An injection molding robot is no better than its end-of-arm tooling (EOAT). All the potential benefits of robots--increased productivity, quality, and safety, as well as reduced scrap--are influenced by the effectiveness with which the EOAT does its job. End-of-arm tooling may perform tasks as simple as sprue picking and demolding or as advanced as degating, insert loading, parts reorientation, and assembly.
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