In our fifth and final 2003 edition of Akcelerator, Technically Speaking investigates pressure stability and its impact on product quality. Continuing the multiple extruder packaging theme from our previous Akcelerator, Product News shows how two or more fully articulating extruders can be combined on one common base. Product News also introduces a new solid cast bronze feed section designed to eliminate water treatment problems caused by standard cast iron feed sections. Worth Noting offers a glimpse at our exciting virtual conferencing capabilities. And check out AKt Now for special pricing on temperature controllers and solid-state relays.

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING...

Going With The Flow

Zen and the art of pressure stability.

Extrusion processors should be concerned with keeping a tight reign on pressure stability for two reasons: First, it assures happy customers and repeat business by meeting or exceeding dimensional tolerance requirements; and second, it improves profitability by minimizing excess raw material usage.

Sources of Instability. If your pressure stability is beyond the ranges recommended above, the three most likely causes are: (1) Insufficient bulk density or excessive bulk density variation; (2) inconsistent feedstock particle size and shape, perhaps complicated by inappropriate feed section geometry; (3) a screw design that is incompatible at the speeds and outputs required to make your job profitable.

Most processors can get to the root of problems 1 & 2 on their own. Solving problem 3 will require the proper diagnostic equipment and an experienced screw designer.

Screw Design & Pressure Stability. Even basic metering and mixing screws can produce great pressure stability at low to moderate speeds. But increase the speed to 30 or 40 rpm or more and very bad things may begin to happen: pressure and temperature instability; unacceptable dimensional fluctuation; hang-ups in sizers; chronic process shutdowns. A scientific name for a major source of these problems is "solid bed break-up". This occurs when metering screws are pushed beyond their limits. A well-designed barrier screw will eliminate this phenomenon and its undesirable consequences.

How About a Melt Pump? A melt pump may be a good solution if the sources of instability can't otherwise be corrected. However, melt pumps tend to be the most expensive solution in terms of initial capital investment, energy utilization, downtime for cleaning and maintenance. Optimizing the screw usually satisfies 90% of instability problems and is much more cost-effective.

Back to the Lab. High performance barrier screws are designed and optimized using fully instrumented laboratory extruders with high-speed data collection and analysis capabilities. American Kuhne also has a portable extrusion analyzer that can be used on your extruder to collect baseline data in an effort to improve pressure stability, possibly without the need for a new screw. It may be possible to diagnose the exact incompatibilities in barrel set-point temperatures and/or deficiencies in screw design, especially if you have an American Kuhne extruder equipped with a standard "diagnostic pressure port."

For a detailed review of your application, please contact your Regional Sales Manager, email Ed Steward, or call him at (860) 886-7745, ext. 114.

-- PRODUCT NEWS --

Extruders in Space
Cost effective and custom designs that defy gravity.

If you have to continually reposition coextruders to accommodate different tooling or unique process requirements, American Kuhne has a creative solution for you. We can mount two or more extruders on a common base, which allows them to be easily repositioned for different tooling and/or applications.

Any size and combination of extruders can be designed on a common base to pivot, move up/down, left/right, and/or in/out.

Solid Cast Bronze Feed Section Eliminates Water Treatment Concerns
Combining cast bronze with a hardened liner offers the best of both worlds.

Many customers are taking advantage of the efficiencies of a plant wide chilled water system. The water jacket in a standard cast iron feed section, however, can cause significant water treatment headaches for those processors seeking a totally non-ferrous water system. To address these concerns, AK now offers a cost-effective, optional solid cast bronze feed section combined with our optional field replaceable hardened liner. This is something to keep in mind as you replace machines or add new extrusion lines.

WORTH NOTING

AK Virtual Conferencing
Transcends Time and Space
In order to make proprietary information about the many technical and commercial benefits of using American Kuhne extruders more readily available, we have developed virtual conferencing capability.

Now you can meet with our technical sales specialists at your convenience via voice and Internet connections. We can show you our confidential technical presentation or take you on a tour of applications, selecting from hundreds of examples in our detailed photo archives.

We can virtually meet with you one-on-one, in groups, or simultaneously deliver the presentation to staff members at multiple plant locations. You can interrupt to ask questions and even take over the cursor from your own desktop to make sure we get your point too.

To arrange a virtual conference contact your Regional Sales Manager, call Inside Sales Manager Brian Caulfield directly at (860) 886-7745, ext. 126, or email him at bcaulfield@americankuhne.com.

Visit us at Booth 2790, MD&M West
January 6-8, 2004, Anaheim, CA
Anaheim Convention Center

If you are planning to attend the Medical Design & Manufacturing West Exposition, make sure to stop by American Kuhne’s Booth # 2790.

AKt Now!

Through December 31, 2003, take advantage of special low pricing on standard temperature controllers and solid-state relays.

Barber-Colman 07EF heat/cool or heat only temperature controllers: $220 each

Solid State Relay rated for 30Amp, single phase, including heat sink and DIN rail mount: $40 each

E-Mail Privacy Notice: AKcelerator is a regular e-mail newsletter of American Kuhne, Inc. and is not sent unsolicited. You can unsubscribe by replying to this e-mail with Unsubscribe in the subject line, or use the options above.

Tel: 860-886-7745 ● Fax: 860-887-7621