Milacron PET molds and co-injection molds now feature a PC-based data-gathering system
SmartMold, a PC-based data-gathering technology for molds introduced last year by the Mold-Masters division of Milacron Inc., Batavia, Ohio, is now being installed and tested on all new Milacron PET molds and co-injection molds, said CTO Bruce Catoen.
SmartMold fully integrates with sensors placed in the hot runner to monitor aspects of the process, including uptime, cycle times, pressures and temperature.
Mold-Masters is working to add central storage of mold setup data, including the injection molding machine and the auxiliaries in the molding cell.
Users can configure the unit to recommend an action — such as preventive maintenance — when there is an operational extreme or when a pre-set cycle count is reached. Catoen said SmartMold will be able to improve mold uptime, product yields, mold and machine performance, energy consumption and part quality. Data from the device can be accessed remotely through a single wire communication connection.
SmartMold can eliminate the need for parting line sensors, pressure transducers and thermocouples. The technology can notify the user and its supplier of the pending need for parts or service. Users can interface with SmartMold through a PC, tablet or smartphone.
