Thermoforming Spotlight

Heavy Duty CNC
The Thermwood 5 Axis Model 90 is a heavy duty, high-speed five axis CNC router specifically developed for three dimensional applications. It is used for production trimming of thermoformed, composite and fiberglass parts as well as being utilized for machine patterns and molds directly from CAD data. This robust system offers a variety of options and features to tackle a multitude of different applications.

The Model 90 comes with either single (5’x 5’, 5’x 10, 10’x 5’) or dual moving aluminum tables (5’x 5, 5’x 10’ and 5’x 12’) as well as a 12 HP router and a 4-position automatic tool changing system as standard. Bigger routers and additional automatic tool changers are available.

Other options are an automatic tool length sensor, automatic lubrication system, gantry lighting, machine enclosure, continuous C axis, accu-lube mist coolant system, 6-position bar style automatic tool changer and ten-position rotary automatic tool changer. Three-dimensional laser compensated axis alignment, installation and five-day machine training are included as standard.

Thermwood is a US based, multinational, diversified CNC machinery manufacturer that markets its products and services through offices in 11 countries. Thermwood is the oldest manufacturer of highly flexible, 3 and 5 axis high-speed machining centers. They primarily market to the plastics, aerospace, composites and woodworking industries but have found applications in almost every major industry from medical to entertainment.

For more information, contact Duane Marrett, Thermwood Corporation, 904 Buffaloville Rd., Dale, IN 47523, 800-533-6901, E-mail: duane.marrett@thermwood.com. Web: www.thermwood.com.

Trimming Machines
GEISS, a worldwide leader in technology, quality and performance, manufactures trimming machines that can be exactly adapted to meet your specific requirements.

Depending on requirements, the GEISS trimming machines are available in any nominal size and different versions. The smallest machine size provides the same productivity and rigidity as the larger ones. The nominal size is equal to the block size trimmed with 5-axis in all machines. The machine size 2000 x 1000 mm is the most built standard size.

GEISS customers can be assured that all programs are interchangeable and compatible to enable transfer to newer control systems among all machine sizes.

Areas of application include: thermoplastics; glass and carbon fiber-reinforced composites; compression molded parts of GMT and SMC; molded parts of foam; honeycomb lightweight materials; pattern making foams in tool making and prototyping.

For more information, contact Michael J. Roche, Geiss LLC, 42 Ozick Drive, Unit 6, Durham, CT 06422, 203-988-9426, E-mail: michael.roche@geissllc.com, Web: www.geiss-ttt.com.

Tools for the Toughest Plastic
Vortex Tool Company Series 5500 Tooling is designed for plastic cutting in a wide range of applications. These tools are commonly used when trimming excess material on thermoformed and molded parts. The double edge “O” flute offers the same cutting characteristics as the single edge “O” flute design, but can provide additional tool life in some materials. Two cutting edges produce a stronger cross section and improved plunge capabilities. Vortex has designed these tools i n many different diameters, cut lengths and overall lengths to meet the needs of router and robot machines. The Vortex staff can consult with you to determine your router applications and select a specific set of tools and accessories to meet your design needs. Most items are in stock for immediate shipment.

American owned and operated, Vortex Tool Company, Inc. designs and manufactures a wide variety of standard and custom high-performance router and insert cutting tools for the woodworking and plastics industries, and provides re-tipping and sharpening services for all makes and models.

For more information, contact Lucas Molepske, Vortex Tool Company, 5605 East Jelinek Avenue, Schofield, WI 54476, 800-355-7708/715-355-7707, Fax: 715-355-7353, E-mail: lucas@vortextool.com, Web: www.vortextool.com.

Cutting & Milling Tools
Hufschmied offers a range of tooling specifically designed for milling plastics. With plastic materials it is crucial to keep the milling temperature as low as possible. This can be achieved with tools from their Univer- sal-Line and Sharp- Line. Depending on your requirements and your machinery, the solution to your processing problem offers you a choice of one, two or three-flute cutters.

Hufschmied tools are designed to minimize burr formation and provide a quality edge finish at high feed rates minimizing secondary operations.

When it comes to cutting thermoset the avoidance of burr formation is critical to a high quality edge finish. Their Universal-Line and Proto-Line are well suited for this category of materials.

For the processing of PMMA, cast or extruded, the Frasen Per Plex product range of single-fluted milling cutters produce a mirror-like surface finish without the need for additional polishing tools or any other polishing action. When working acrylics, milling cutters and drills need to produce sharply defined cutting edges. For this approach, Hufschmied supplies the FPE tool system with a singlestep roughing and finishing cycle producing these very sharply defined edges. For polycarbonate and PET their Sharp-Line will provide a sooth finish with long tool life.

For more information, contact Erin Marciniak, Hufschmied USA, 42 Ozick Drive, Unit 6, Durham CT 06422, 419-341-6337, E-mail: sales@hufschmiedusa.com, Web: www.hufschmied.net.

Thermosetting Adhesive Tapes
Alamotape™ launched of a new innovative structural adhesive tape product platform, “Tacky Thermosetting Adhesive Tapes”. These tapes are tacky at room temperature, providing initial bond like a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) tape. When heat and pressure are applied, the polymer chains cross-link producing an infusible and insoluble polymer network, which allows the tape to achieve full cure and high bond strength. Alamotape offers two types of tacky thermosetting adhesive tapes including Alamotape 5105 and Alamotape 5202.

Alamotape 5105 Tacky Thermoset performs like a PSA tape at room temperature and cures to a very high strength with heat and pressure. It is B-stage curable to a permanent thermosetting bond. This tape is ideal for bonding parts without the need for clamping or the mess associated with liquid adhesives.

Alamotape 5202 Tacky Thermoset has excellent initial tack and peel strength at room temperature—outperforming most PSA tapes. With added heat and pressure, the adhesive then cures to an even higher bond strength. It is ideally suited for thermoforming applications of dissimilar and low surface energy substrates.

“The addition of this new product platform and these products reflect our new tagline, ‘Breakthrough Solutions that Stick’ and our commitment to continue to produce innovative products that address the common challenges our customers face when adhering similar and dissimilar substrates together,” said Dave Rosen, President of Alamotape.

To learn more, visit www.alamotape.com/applications/ structural-adhesive-tapes/.

For more information, contact Dave Rosen, Alamotape™, 6110 Rittiman Rd., San Antonio, TX 78218, 800-549-9860/210-798-1902, E-mail: drosen@alamotape.com, Web: www.alamotape.com.

Parts for Thermoformers
You know where to get new parts for your thermoformer - everything from a Servo Motor on your Sencorp 2500 Ultra to Treadle Link Arms for your LR5 TSL Vertical Press. But where do you find a heater panel for your Comet Meteor, or a Clamp Cylinder for your Heartland Single Station? Original Equipment Manufacturers can't stock parts for “Classic”, out of business thermoforming machine builders as they might sell one per year nationwide. But Thermoformer Parts Suppliers has made a living out of keeping records on these out of operation thermoformers, including several like General Plastics Machinery, Plasti-Vac, ZMD, and Schuman that have quit functioning in the last several years.

Of course, they also sell upgrades and modifications, along with maintenance parts to compete with the OEM’s that are still in business. But, for the old stuff, they have your back, no one else understands this older equipment like TPS. They have over 80 years of experience in these “Classic” and newer formers.

The next time that you want to know what to do when your quartz tube goes out on your GPM, or your roller bearing falls off of your PVI, give them a call

For more information, contact Brad Moore, TPS LLC, 3818 Terry Diane, Beaverton, MI 48612, 800-722-2997 /989-435-3800, Fax: 989-435-3825, E-mail: brad@thermoformerparts.com, Web: www.thermoformerparts.com.

Single-Station Thermoformer
MAAC Machinery’s Comet Model C64S is 100% plug-and-play. With a 72” x 48” maximum mold size, the single station thermoforming machine is equipped with variable speed programmable platens (32” stroke top/27” stroke bottom), quartz upper and quartz lower ovens and an electric sheet car index. Additional features include Allen Bradley PLC controls, adjustable clamp frames, 46 independent oven zones (23 zones per oven half), infrared pyrometer in the upper oven, safety/sag eye in the lower oven, air and vacuum memory positioning valves, oversized vacuum tank, high velocity cooling fans and an air conditioned electrical enclosure.

MAAC Machinery is the world’s largest thermoforming machinery manufacturer focusing exclusively on cut-sheet thermoforming applications. They design and manufacture the highest quality shuttle and rotary thermoforming machines specializing in vacuum forming, pressure forming, twin sheet forming and a wide variety of automotive OEM and custom thermoforming applications.

MAAC also offer trade-in deals for your out of date equipment so you can benefit and enjoy the latest technological advancements a MAAC machine has to offer.

For more information, contact Paul Alongi, MAAC Machinery, 590 Tower Blvd., Carol Stream, IL 60188, 630-665-1700, Fax: 630-665-7799, E-mail: sales@maacsales.com, Web: www.maacmachinery.com.

New & Used Thermoformers & Routers
PlastiMach is a leading sales organization in the United States specializing in new and used thermoformers and CNC routers since 1975.

Plastimach is an excellent source for buying and selling late model equipment nationwide. Their experience as a buyer and seller of used equipment provides us the ability to understand the used marketplace on a day- to-day basis.

They realize that a machine’s value is dependent upon many variables, which are critical to ensure that the equipment can be sold or purchased at the right price. Allow us the opportunity to provide the right machine for your application. if you’re looking to sell a machine they can assist you in selling that obsolete asset.

For more information, contact Rob Rosen, PlastiMach Corp., 704 Executive Blvd., Valley Cottage, NY 10989, 800-394-1128/845-267-2985, Fax: 800-394-1128/845-267-2825, E-mail: robr@plastimach.com, Web: www.plastimach.com.

Coated CNC Router Bits
Amana Tool, a producer of industrial quality carbide-tipped, solid carbide and replacement carbide cutting tools, recently introduced their Spektra™ extreme tool life coated CNC router bit line.

Their Spektra bits feature a nACo® nanocomposite coating with an extreme Nano hardness and heat resistance. With a brilliant distinctively- tinted coloring, nACo provides additional improvements in four critical aspects of router tooling.

nACo coating is a micro-thin ceramic coating which enables the tool's cutting edge to retain crucial sharpness and lubricity. This provides longevity and produces cutting results of the highest quality. The coating also prevents high heat and oxidation, which is detrimental to cutting tool performance. The multi-colored hues, while attractive, will dissipate upon use and yet coating will remain fully effective.

nACo offers approximately 4,500 Vickers for impressive solid hardness on cutting areas of the tool, for an increase up to 2.5 times the life compared to uncoated bits.

The range of tools is aimed at use in the high production wood and plastics industries. Featured are solid carbide compression spirals for use on wood, wood veneer, plywood, MDF and laminates. Also offered are solid carbide “O’ flute tools for use on acrylic (Plexiglas® Lucite®) and many other plastic materials. The tools are available in a variety of sizes. The compression tools are also offered in a 5-piece set.

For more information, contact Frank Misiti, Amana Tool, 120 Caro lyn Blvd., Farmingdale, NY 11735, 800-445-0077/631-752-1300, Fax: 631-752-1674, E-mail: frankm@amanatool.com, Web: www.amanatool.com.

TPO Family
Primex Plastics offers the Tuff-X family of products. Tuff-X, TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) is a compounded alloy of polypropylene, elastomers and mineral fillers. TPO has advanced a great deal over the last several years and is much easier to process and provides exceptional properties. Tuff-X offers a unique balance of stiffness and low thermal expansion contraction (CLTE) as well as excellent impact, weatherability and chemical resistance. Primex offers Tuff-X in a variety of constructions with Flex Modulus ranging from 280,000 PSI up to 500,000 PSI. The material is available in an ultra-low gloss up to their extreme gloss with excellent depth of image. Custom colors and a variety of surfaces and soft touch feels are also available.

Primex extrudes plastic sheet using polystyrene, polyethylene, ABS, polypropylene and polyester in addition to an assortment of specialty products to serve a wide range of industries. Primex is a wholly owned subsidiary of ICC Industries.

For more information, contact Tim Schultz, Primex Plastics Corporation, 1235 North F Street, Richmond, IN 47374, 800-222-5116/765-973-0108, E-mail: tschultz@primexplastics.com, Web: www.primexplastics.com.