Thermoforming Spotlight

High Performance 5-Axis CNC for Thermoforming

Thermwood Corporation’s Model 90, 5-Axis CNC Router brings high performance and reliability to a new level. This new high performance CNC router is built in the USA, at Thermwood’s Southern Indiana factory, utilizing an innovative new, highly efficient manufacturing approach which results in a superior structure coupled with enhanced use of materials.

The M90 features multiple table sizes ranging from a single 60” x 60” moving table to 72” x 144” dual tables for maximum production, continuous C-axis, their Patented Impact Resistant Head which eliminates the need to re-align the head after a crash and much more. The M90 offers high acceleration/high performance motions in both positioning and cutting. This high performance solution also includes Thermwood’s powerful QCore Super Control and superior features like fully stress relieved weldments, high-end Siemens drives throughout, THK rails, three-dimensional volumetric position compensation and many other quality features seldom, if ever, found at this price point. The M90 is a robust, highly flexible production system capable of operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Thermwood is a U.S. company with distributors worldwide and provides extensive and complete support, installation, training and ongoing service.

For more information, contact Jason Susnjara, Thermwood Corporation, 904 Buffaloville Rd., Dale, IN 47523, 800-533-6901/812-937-4476, Fax: 812-937- 2956, E-mail: info@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, 29 Pequot Road, Wallingford, CT 06492, 203-988- 9426, E-mail: michael.roche@geissllc.com, Web: www. geiss-ttt.com.

Multi-Function Thermoforming Center

Abbeon has recently introduced the NEW CR Clarke Thermoforming Center (CR911, 230V) to their line of products. The CR911 provides six thermoforming processes in a single machine. A twozone ceramic heater system ensures even heating for vacuum forming and also heats the fan-circulated oven. A rotary switch allows the operator to select a process, while a digital timer with audible alarm provides a useful timing guide.

Their CR911 is capable of a wide variety of processes. For Vacuum Forming, plates are supplied for two sheet sizes of vacuum forming. Maximum mold height is 100mm. For Dome Blowing, a cast acrylic or PVC sheet is heated in the oven. It is transferred to the Dome Blowing plate, clamped, and compressed air is applied beneath it. For Plastic Dip Coating, compressed air is forced through a 5-liter tank containing thermoplastic powder to aerate it, making it behave like a fluid. The metal item to be coated is heated in the oven and then dipped in the fluidized powder. Once the item is removed from the tank the powder flows to form a smooth coating. For Plastic Welding, an industrial hot air torch is integrated into the machine for the welding of solvent resistant materials. A fold up worktable gives support along with a calibrated tilting stop sets the angles. For Injection Molding, material is heated in the oven in a high thermal mass aluminum pot. This pot is transferred to the injection-molding unit and injected into a suitable mold by the pneumatic cylinder. Extrusion is also carried out on the Injection Molding unit, with the heated material being extruded through an I-section nozzle into a cooling water tube.

A Fan Circulated Oven is included for plastic memory demonstrations, sheet heating, annealing etc.

Abbeon has been providing top quality industrial equipment to businesses for over 70 years. They are an authorized distributor of CR Clarke machines and are proud to now offer as part of their product line the CR Clarke Edge Polishers, Vacuum Formers, Injection Molders, Granu la - tors, Sheet Presses and Profile Cutters.

For more information, contact Bob Brunsman, Abbeon Cal Inc., 1363 Donlon Street Unit 1, Ventura, CA 93003, 800-922-0977, E-mail: abbeoncal@abbeon.com, Web: www.abbeon.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 dayto- 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 Jerry Hammerman, PlastiMach Corp., 704 Executive Blvd., Valley Cottage, NY 10989, 800-394-1128/845-267-2985, Fax: 800-394- 1128/845-267-2825, E-mail: jerryh@plastimach.com, Web: www.plastimach.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 Universal-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 single-step 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 Ozark Drive, Unit 6, Durham CT 06422. 239- 220-6602, E-mail: sales@hufschmiedusa.com, Web: www.hufschmied.net.

Twin-Sheet Upgrades

MAAC’s newest twin sheet model 94R4DPT (108” x 48”) has been upgraded to accommodate both thinner and thicker sheets for twin sheet thermoforming. Made to accommodate sheets of plastic as thin as .030” per sheet, and as thick as .500” per sheet, in the twin sheet forming process. These thicknesses represent the thinnest and thickest starting gauges used to date and are opening up more possibilities for the industry to offer. Twin sheet forming results in reducing material thickness while at the same time adding strength.

MAAC has implemented upgrades to reduce machine rotation time, increase platen closing time, a new faster flowing vacuum system, as well as new software technology to better control the process and efficiencies.

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

Tooling for Plastics

Vortex Tool Company manufactures and maintains more than 300 plastic cutting tools in stock. Vortex Tool also custom designs and manufactures cutting tools for plastics operations including thermoforming, incorporating the necessary geometry for a clean cutting, long lasting tool.

Using state-of-the-art CAD/CAM manufacturing processes, all Vortex tools are fully engineered and manufactured to industry standard designs and components so that an accurate record and drawing of each tool exists for future reproduction. Approval drawings are submitted prior to creating the tooling.

Vortex Tool offers cutting edges in different grades of carbide, stellite, high-speed steel or polycrystalline diamond. Stringent quality control ensures a precise cutting edge as well as profile accuracy; profiles are checked on an optical comparator for extreme accuracy. All tools are available in left-hand rotation and customsized tools are available upon request. Custom tooling deliveries average between two and three weeks, one of the fastest turnaround times in the industry.

Vortex Tool Company, Inc. designs and manufactures a wide variety of standard and custom high-performance router and insert cutting tools, all made in the USA, for the woodworking and plastics industries, and provides retipping and sharpening services for all makes and models.

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

Coated CNC Router Bits

Amana Tool, a producer of industrial quality carbidetipped, 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 Carolyn Blvd., Farmingdale, NY 11735, 800- 445-0077/631-752-1300, Fax: 631-752-1674, E-mail: frankm@amanatool.com, Web: www.amanatool.com.