Test Panel Tooling Test Panel Tool (Option 1)

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Shimmed Cavity VRTM Test Panel Tool

The entry level option of the test panel tool range. 500 x 500 mm vacuum clamped (VRTM) tool with fixed cavity thickness, adjustable with optional inserted shim plates.

Features include:

  • The lower mould is machined with a fixed cavity thickness which can be reduced by fitting shim plates, with a cavity range of 0.5 mm to 15 mm
  • The upper face consists of 19 mm heat toughened plate glass in a supporting steel framework to maintain accuracy, which allows full observation of the injection process
  • The mould is clamped using vacuum only (VRTM) and is limited to use at low injection pressures up to 0.5 bar positive
  • Injection is via a peripheral injection gate with a central vent or vice versa
  • The mould can be specified with water heating channels or integral electrical heating with the appropriate insulation
  • The glass upper face is hinged and supported on gas struts for ease of operation
  • An air ejector system is included with standard specification
Tooling Options
Shim Plates
  • Machined steel shim plates are available in a range of thicknesses from 1 mm to 10 mm
  • Shim plates can be stackable and used to achieve a required cavity thickness
  • Other shim plate thicknesses can be machined to order on request
    • Universal Sensor Positions
  • Machined ports in the tool so it can accept an in-mould pressure sensor (IMPS) or thermocouple (T/C)
  • Blanking plugs are included to blank off the machined holes when not in use
  • Up to 4 universal sensor positions are available for IMPS and/or T/C's
    • Air Ejector
  • In-mould air ejector designed to provide maximum air-flow with minimum interference with the mould surface
  • Designed to be fitted into either composite or metal tooling
  • Included as standard with all options
    • 2 Litre Catch-Pot
  • 2 litre inline catch-pot assembly with 1 x GEKA fitting
  • Designed to be used for vacuum connection
  • Included as standard with all options
    • Heating Options
    Fluid Heating
  • Recommended for heating up to 80°C
  • Protective insulation will be required for moulds operating above 50°C

    Fluid heating unit comprising of:

  • Stainless steel braided hoses
  • Temperature control unit with digital display of the set and actual temperature with 1/10 degree to read in °C or °F
  • Water operation heating capacity of 3 kW
  • Pump motor capacity of 0.75 kW
  • Power supply: 400V 50 Hz 16A 3P+N+E
    • Standard Electrical Heating
  • Recommended for heating of up to 80°C
  • Protective insulation will be required for tools operating above 50°C

    Electrical heating unit comprising of:

  • PID temperature controller with K-type thermocouple feedback from the tool
  • Control system to comprise all necessary electrical safety and gear control
  • Numerical display of setpoint and current temperature
  • Power supply: 230V 50 Hz 16A 1P+N+E
    • Advanced Electrical Heating
  • Recommended for heating of up to 80°C
  • Protective insulation will be required for tools operating above 50°C

    Advanced electrical heating unit comprising of:

  • PID temperature controller with K-type thermocouple feedback from the tool
  • Control system to comprise all necessary electrical safety and gear control including a back-up overtemperature protection system
  • 4" touchscreen control with graphs of heater temperatures
  • Controllable ramp rates for heating and cooling
  • USB port for datalogging as a standard and the data is logged to CSV format
  • Additional datalogging inputs for IMPS and T/C's options are available
  • Power supply: 230V 50 Hz 16A 1P+N+E
    • Video Demonstration
    How to Specify/Order

    Item/Option NotesPart/Option Number
    500 x 500 mm Shimmed Cavity VRTM Test Panel Tool
    		XM-5101
    Options
    Shim Plates
    		Multiple plates can be used to achieve a required cavity
    1 mm (±0.1 mm)02
    2 mm (±0.15 mm)
    		03
    3 mm (±0.2 mm)
    		04
    4 mm (±0.24 mm)
    		05
    5 mm (±0.25 mm)
    		06
    10 mm (±0.36 mm)
    		07
    Machined Shim Plates (±0.05 mm)
    		Available above 5 mm (upon request)
    Universal Sensor PositionsSensors are not suitable if shim insert plates are being used – contact the team to discuss further
    Sensor Mounting Detail - One PortOptional machined hole for either IMPS or T/C21
    Sensor Mounting Detail - Two PortsOptional machined holes for either IMPS or T/C22
    Sensor Mounting Detail - Three PortsOptional machined holes for either IMPS or T/C23
    Sensor Mounting Detail - Four PortsOptional machined holes for either IMPS or T/C24

    Heating OptionNotesPart/Option Number
    Options
    Fluid Heating/Temperature Control UnitFor water or oil08
    Electrical Heating: Standard Control09
    Electrical Heating: Advanced Control10
    Data LoggingIncludes:

    Cavity plate heating
    3 x 0-10V IMPS outputs
    3 x Type-K T/C inputs

    Only available for advanced control, electrical heated option

    Does not include the sensors or thermocouples    		30
    Insulation BlanketRequired for moulds operating above 50°C11

    To specify a tooling configuration use the main test panel tool part number, followed by the required option numbers separated by a hyphen:

    e.g. XM-5101-21-04-05-08 specifies a 500 x 500 mm Shimmed Cavity VRTM Test Panel Tool with one universal sensor position, 3 mm and 4 mm shim plates, and a fluid heating/temperature control unit

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