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APSX  LLC, which previously marketed the APSX‑PIM desktop thermoplastic injection molding machine, has debuted the APSX‑LSR — a bench‑top liquid silicone rubber (LSR) injection system. Designed for engineers, med‑tech startups and research labs, APSX says the machine produces production‑quality silicone parts while running off 115V AC and less than 1 kW of power draw and still being able to deliver a 6‑g shot in 63 seconds.

In terms of material handling, Kubi Kara, president of APSX, told Plastics Technology that the APSX-LSR is designed to use its own 2-L integrated dual-cartridge pump system. “The whole point is to give the user the freedom not to use standard metering equipment since it is so expensive,” Kara says. In the near future, the company will design a pump system for 5-gallon buckets and plans to ultimately enable integration with existing metering equipment from suppliers such as Elmet and Nexus, according to Kara.

At this time, the company will offer what it calls “a curated material portfolio,” starting with three selected LSR formulations that support the most common application requirements. These include a soft 20A Shore hardness resin for medical devices, seals and flexible components requiring maximum elasticity; a medium 40A Shore hardness — which is included with the machine — for automotive applications, gaskets and general-purpose LSR components; and a hard 70A Shore hardness grade for structural components, keypads and applications requiring dimensional stability.

The machine’s maximum shot size is 30 cm³, and it can accommodate standard LSR mold sizes up to 6 x 4.8. Clean-room compatible, the APSX-LSR features stainless steel components and hard-anodized aluminum parts, including a specialized LSR barrel with integrated cooling and stainless-steel construction. The touchscreen control has LSR-specific process monitoring and advanced temperature control with heated mold capability up to 200°C.

The APSX‑LSR is launching with early-bird pricing under $15,000.