K 2025: ALLROUNDER MORE 2000

The ALLROUNDER MORE 2000 with a clamping force of 2,000 kN is equipped with a size 400 horizontal injection unit and a size 170 vertical injection unit. A 32-cavity mould from Polarform with hot runner technology and standard parts from Hasco are also used. In a cycle time of around 60 seconds, 32 two-colour domino bricks are produced from ABS. Unlike conventional two-component applications, the mould does not open and rotate to add the second component. Instead, the front of the dominoes is created by first injecting a grey ABS component via the vertical injection unit. Two hydraulic cylinders then retract the cores and the individual number of pins. This creates space in the cavities for the second, green ABS component. This is injected via the horizontal injection unit and fills the back of the bricks and their indentations on the front. In this way, 28 bricks are produced in all the number-pair combinations from 0:0 to 6:6 needed to create a complete set of dominoes, also featuring four other dominoes that simply show the logos of the partners.

Within the production cell, a MULTILIFT V 30 removes the finished moulded parts from the mould and places them on a conveyor belt. The linear robotic system with a load capacity of 30 kilograms is equipped with a complex gripper from Kiki and is fully integrated into the Gestica control system. The automation is supplemented by an autonomously operating mobile cobot next to a work table outside the safety fence. A camera system in its gripper detects the precise position of a box and lid previously placed anywhere on the table and transmits these coordinates for the correct gripping position. The cobot then progressively removes eight dominoes from the conveyor belt, stacks them in four layers in the package and fits a lid to it. The staff at the machine hand out the completed domino set to visitors as a give-away and then go on to prepare the next box. To ensure safe collaboration between humans and robots, the workspace is secured by a light barrier and, in this case, is also divided into three zones: Once the entire area is vacant, the cobot works at a defined, optimum speed. If the barrier is breached in the central area, its movements automatically slow down. In the critical inner zone, the cobot stops as soon as it is touched. A stand-alone solution of this kind, placed on a mobile trolley, can be used very flexibly and efficiently as end-of-line automation on various systems.

The machines in the MORE series offer plenty of space for larger moulds, turning units, media connections and a usable ejector stroke. As standard, they have a highly dynamic electric toggle clamping unit with energy-efficient liquid-cooled servomotors, two electric injection units and a choice of either 1,600 or 2,000 kN clamping force. Thanks to their highly modular design and numerous optimised features for greater ease of operation and simple maintenance, the ALLROUNDER More can be adapted very flexibly to the respective customer and market requirements. This means that all common multi-component applications can be realised and easily combined with various processes such as liquid silicone injection moulding.