Multi-component micro injection molding for medical technology

The injection molding machines from WITTMANN BATTENFELD, in this instance primarily the MicroPower developed for manufacturing micro parts, are already optimally suited for clean room production in their standard versions, since they are laid out for a minimal level of emissions. The all-electric MicroPower is designed as a self-contained cell enclosed on all sides, which simultaneously offers sufficient space for the integration of various optional pieces of equipment, such as a rotary table, robots, material dryers or temperature controllers. All drive modules of the all-electric drive system including all mechanical components are encapsulated in easy-to-clean housings.

Fig. 1: MicroPower 15/10H/10H COMBIMOULD in clean room version

At the Compamed in Dusseldorf, WITTMANN BATTENFELD will demonstrate its competence in the area of medical technology with the production of a sensor component for a medical measuring instrument in hall 08b, booth F03-1. It will be manufactured on a 2-component machine from the MicroPower series specially designed for micro and nano injection molding, a MicroPower 15/10H/10H, with a 4-cavity mold supplied by Wittner, Austria. The razor-thin, spherical membrane injection-molded from PP and EVA9 serves to measure a specific pressure inside the measuring device. The parts will be processed in a clean-room environment (class 6 clean air according to the ISO 14644-1 standard) which is created by using a laminar flow box inside the machine. They will be removed by a W8VS4 SCARA robot from WITTMANN specially designed for this machine, inspected by a camera system integrated in the machine and then deposited on a conveyor belt.

The MicroPower COMBIMOULD, equipped with two horizontal injection units and a rotary table, can be used for either single-component or two-component injection molding. This makes it possible to mold parts in different colors and/or made of different materials and/or produce two different parts simultaneously in one cycle, with two ejectors handling parallel ejection of the parts in the latter case. When using the machine for multi-component injection molding, the integrated rotary table takes care of transporting the part to the second injection unit and back.

Fig. 2: Membrane made of PP and EVA9

About the WITTMANN Group
The WITTMANN Group is a worldwide leader in the production of injection molding machines, robots and peripheral equipment for the plastics processing industry, headquartered in Vienna/Austria and consisting of two main divisions: WITTMANN BATTENFELD and WITTMANN. They jointly operate the companies of the group with eight production plants in five countries, and its additional sales and service companies are active with 34 facilities on all important plastics markets around the world.

WITTMANN BATTENFELD pursues the further expansion of its market position as an injection molding machine manufacturer and specialist for state-of-the-art process technologies. As a supplier of comprehensive, modern machine technology in modular design, the company meets both present and future market demands for plastics injection molding equipment.

The WITTMANN product portfolio includes robots and automation systems, material handling systems, dryers, gravimetric and volumetric blenders, granulators, temperature controllers and chillers. With this diversified range of peripheral units, WITTMANN offers plastics processors solutions to cover all production requirements, ranging from independent production cells to integrated plant-wide systems.

The syndication of the various segments under the umbrella of the WITTMANN Group has led to complete connectivity between the various product lines, for the benefit of plastics processors with an increasing demand for seamless integration of processing machinery with automation and peripherals.