Raytek GP Temperature Monitoring System and Thermalert TX Sensors Provide Automated Solution At General Plastics Machines, Inc.
Ask General Plastics Machines why they use Raytek noncontact IR temperature measurement technology in their thermoforming machines and they’ll tell you it comes down to the bottom-line benefits:
- higher product quality,
- less scrap,
- fewer rejects,
- lower energy costs and
- higher yields.
In the thermoforming industry, precise temperature control is key to the production of high-quality products.
Thermoplastic materials are heated in a thermoforming oven until they achieve the correct softness or “sag,” and then molded into the desired shape.
Ideally, the thermoplastic sheet should be heated uniformly to its appropriate forming temperature.
Traditionally, thermoformers relied upon specialized manual techniques for sheet temperature control.
Operators tried to minimize the difference between the sheet’s core and surface temperatures, while ensuring both areas stayed within the material’s minimum and maximum forming temperatures.
It’s a difficult balancing act, as low heating temperatures can produce stresses in thermoformed parts, and high heating temperatures cause problems such as blistering and loss of color or gloss.
For General Plastics Machines, Inc., a leading Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of single-ended, double-ended and rotary thermoforming machines, infrared (IR) sensor technology provided an automated temperature control solution improving sheet temperature monitoring and cycle control.
General Plastics Machines’ custom thermoforming machines are utilized in vacuum, pressure, stretch and drape forming applications.
“With infrared temperature measurement technology, our customers see an improvement in production—and they don’t have as much scrap,” said General Plastics Machines’ President Bob Elder.
“They make better quality parts because they get uniform thickness coming out of their thermoforming machine.”
Read the rest of this success story at www.raytek.com/Raytek/en-r0/NewsAndEvents/OtherResources/SuccessStories/GPTX_GeneralPlastics.htm.
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