INJECTION & VENT PORTS (click picture to shop for ports)
MOLD MAKING ACCESSORIES (click picture to shop for accessories)
INFUSER MONO RTM Injection System with Data Collection
The Infuser Series range of Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) machines offers to simplify the process of handling a wide variety of thermoset resins. The Infuser Mono is fully PLC controlled with 6” Monochrome Display for easy real-time monitoring of the most critical process variables. The system offers a versatile package for small batch production, research & development and aerospace type activities. Using the “pressure pot principle”, pre-mixed resin systems are drawn into** the machine under vacuum, actively degassed and then dispensed under pressure into the mold cavity. Processing requirements of single part epoxy materials such as Hexcel’s RTM6 and 3M’s PR500 have led to heated systems complete with higher levels of control and monitoring.
** Loading can also be configured to pour in from the top side of tube
General Specifications The Infuser system is highly versatile:
Standard 6 liter capacity Homogenizer
Simple Stainless Steel Injection Tube disassembly for easy maintenance.
Desktop Monochrome Display of Full PLC control functions
Internal venturi vacuum generator (to -.7 abs) for loading and degassing material.
Capable of injecting at pressures ranging from 0.1 bar to 9 bar.
Able to inject quantities from 50* to 6000cc’s. * Minimal load of 800cc needed to charge bottom of tube and injection hose
Capable of injecting most combinations of resin, pigment, filler, accelerator & catalyst into closed molds.
Temperature Control:
Standard heat system having 150° C capability with full PID control.
Wide Range of Compatible Resin Systems:
Suitable for use with virtually all thermosetting resin systems, including:- polyester, vinylester, methyl methacrylate, phenolic, single and multi component epoxies.
Process Data Collection System:
Each of the following process concerns are Logged Once Per Second:
Time Stamp of injection (Update of Event Every Second)
Resin Temperature within Injection Tube & Each Zone (Injection Tube, Heating Plate, Resin Hose Feed Line)
Monitoring Input of Heat Zones 3 & 4, (Normally one used for each mold half) Note: Infuser Mono does not PID control Zones 3 & 4, Monitoring and Recording in the Data Log System only)
Resin Injection Pressure
Vacuum Degassing Time & Level,
Flow Rate of Injection
Total Resin Injected used on an inventory usage for all moldings
Process Data Collection System cont:
All of the Data is stored on a Dell Laptop PC using the Microsoft Excel environment with pre-made Spreadsheet. This then allows for ALL collected data to be organized into additional user formatted Excel spreadsheets for easy data review and comparison.
Note: Each of the Analog connections for Pressure & Vacuum, as well as, Temperature of each Zone can be connected to at the “Raw” analog input level as well for connection to alternative user data system.
The Dell Laptop PC allows for the data collected to be communicated through a 10/100 Ethernet port or Wireless network for integration with an in-house communication network system allowing for all of the data to be viewed by selected persons directly on their personal office desktop computers.
Infuser Mono 6 Liter System Standard Features:
6 Liter frame mounted Injection Tube with 2 Quick Release removable Seals.
Frame mounted control Panel with PLC controls & Mono Color Screen
Venturi vacuum load/degas system
Regulated pressure inject system controlled by PLC with Touch Screen
Pneumatically actuated load valve
Pneumatically actuated injection valve
3/4” load pipe (Note: When using bottom load configuration).
Automatic Mold Sprue control open/close switch
Top Load Injection Tube
Injection tube is fitted with top side mounted 4” fill port. This eliminates the need for bottom fill and turbulent action of drawing air from pick-up fill tube. System is fitted with both bottom connector styles to facilitate either bottom or top fill use. This feature offers the best of both worlds for filling and cleaning of system after use.
External Pressure Source Connection Port
Part Ref: INF-2003 System comprises 3 way stainless steel ball valve and relevant connections to separate pressure in homogenizer from air used to operate machine control circuit. This permits connection of secondary pressure source (0-10Bar) including other gasses e.g. Argon for use directly with the homogenizer.
External Vacuum Source Connection Port
Part Ref: INF-2004 System comprises 3 way stainless steel ball valve and relevant connections. This enables the use of external vacuum pumps allowing higher vacuum levels to be reached in the Homogenizer.
Weight / Pressure / Temperature Control System
Part Ref: INF-2005
Homogenizer is suspended from counter balanced strain gauge transducer and readout is monitored on Mono Color display unit incorporated into the control Panel. Weighing resolution is 1g Flowrate is displayed in real-time based on the weight / time calculation. The Pressure of the Resin Flow is easily changed by the Display Panel Input with real-time update of actual Homogenizer internal pressure on the Display. The Homogenizer need not be touched to change either Vacuum or Pressure level during or before injection, to change either the Vacuum or Pressure, the Operator simply makes the change on the Operator Display and the value is then immediately updated on the screen.
Temperature of Channel Zones 1 & 2 are fully PID controlled by the PLC.
Zones 3 & 4 are monitored only and recorded in the Data Collection System
(Normally used for monitoring upper and lower mold halves) Pressure Transducer
Pressure transducer is incorporated into machine homogenizer. Full range of operating vacuum/pressure levels may be monitored and displayed on Mono Color display. Monitoring resolution is 100 mBar.
Pressure Control
Operating from the Control Panel Display, the Resin pressure can be controlled with a resolution within 1 psi repeatable and through the full range of the pressure of 0.1 to 9 bar.
Internal Injection Tube and Feed Hose Thermocouples
J type thermocouple probe is incorporated into machine injection tube to monitor actual resin temperature. Real-time display of internal injection tube temperature on the monochrome panel display.
2 Channel Machine Control Heating System & 2 Channel External Monitor
Power supplies and full PID control are incorporated into the desktop control cabinet with each channel temperature shown on Monochrome Display. The 2 Channel Heating controls Heating Elements and PID control for the Infuser Injection Tube and Feed Hose to the Mold which represent Channels or Zones 1 and 2.
Heating Range is up to 160° C (300 degrees Fahrenheit)
The 3rd & 4th channels provide Monitoring of the Thermocouples inputs which normally are for the Upper and Lower Mold halves. The Infuser display shows each channel set point and actual temperatures in real time. The output for each channel is also sent to the Data Collection System as well for recording.
Control Panel Actuated Bottom Tube Load Valve and Pick-up Pipe (Note: Included but not used when operating as “top fill” load)
Replaces manually operated material loading valve. Control switch is incorporated into machine control cabinet.
Instruction Video for Set-up and Operation
Included is a full video of the set-up and operation of the system, as well as, a Operation manual.
