Kaco applies new machine concept from Maplan

These components need to be resistant to temperatures of about 150 °C and also to particularised media, so that functionality is guaranteed throughout the life cycle of the vehicle. The outer diameter of these components is between 100 – 300 mm. In all cases, the company deals with rubber-metal compounds and multiple injections of different materials and/or other inlay components. The range of very different dia­meters and the combination of 1K parts and 2K parts added high demands to the process reliability and performance of the elastomer machine.

Therefore, Kaco sought a special machine builder and met Maplan. The Austrian machine manufacturer delivered a specially configured MTF200HF200/320editionS with PC5000touch control from its factory’s construction kit. This machine consists of an overhead injection unit with 200 cm3 and a horizontally arranged FIFO injection aggregate also with a volume of 200 cm3 and an injection pressure of 2,500 bar. The clamping force is 3,200 kN. The tool engineering from Kaco used on this machine is based on the so-called “Fast Double Shuttle”. The particularly rapid shuttle is possible through parallel hydraulic movements of the machine, which can save up to 10 % of the cycle time, according to the manufacturer’s data.

A highlight results from the tool engineering from Kaco in conjunction with the clean injection of the Maplan injection units. The cold runner helps to optimally distribute the rubber and saves material. Clean injection into the cold runner is provided by the MTF200HF200/320editionS with a movable horizontal injection unit. The unit drives without lifting. The injection unit compresses the material during injection in the cold runner. Due to the contact pressure, the rubber can then sufficiently ­relieve tension again in the ­direction of the injection unit. In addition, the cold runner ­remains free of contamination and there is no residual rubber in the
cold runner.