Extrusion International 1-2020

22 Extrusion International 1/2020 INDUSTRY NEWS Crosshead Embodies Smart Technology for Hose Applications In an effort to continually improve system productiv- ity through smarter technol- ogy, Davis-Standard has in- troduced the Model 3000A (automatic) crosshead for rubber hose applications. As overhead costs for labor, energy and materials put pressure on the margins, it is es- sential to have faster, more versa- tile equipment to merge economics with sustainability. TheModel 3000A crosshead is an example of this technology, enabling hose manufacturers to reduce scrap and attain faster start-up times for smaller lots. Material savings, quick product changes, simplified maintenance, reduced scrap and improved quality equate to competitive efficiency. “Every component on the Model 3000A is engineered to im- prove processing while providing cost savings,” said Joe Wnuk, Vice President, Davis-Standard Elastomer and Profile Systems. “There are production advantages when the crosshead is used as part of a fully integrated and automated elastomer line, or when used separately as a second step in the manufacturing process. Inmany cases, the return on investment can be realized in less than a year.” The Model 3000A incorporates an automatic, servo driven concentricity adjustment system. This new, proprietary system Davis-Standard, LLC www.davis-standard.com allows for adjustment of the core tube/tip assembly with a simple, accurate joystick control. This enables the operator to easily minimize eccentricity, maximize concentricity, and reduce downtime during product changeovers. In addition, the servo drives enable monitoring and adjustments throughout the run to account for lot-to-lot variations, day/night variations, and cor- rections for gum space adjustments. A hydraulic pump system is not necessary and the compact design does not require hoses. Additional features such as a tapered mandrel and highly en- gineered flow paths ensure consistent flow through all speed ranges. The thrust bearing supported core tube/pin assembly enables wall thickness modification under pressure without in- terruption.Dieadjustingscrews are located in removable inserts to protect the body from thread damage. A larger surface area in the water jacket improves heat transfer efficiency. Models are available to accommodate 2-inch (50mm), 3-inch (76mm), 4.5-inch (102mm) and 5.5-inch (140mm) diameter braids. Wnuk added: “One of the best features of this automatic design is the precision adjustment. This contributes to material savings due to tighter tolerances within specifications. This is especially valuable with frequent product and dimension changes, which are becomingmore andmore common in the industry. We look forward to seeing the benefits of the crosshead for customers worldwide.” Davis-Standard’s Aftermarket group is availavble to review your existing elastomer line to determine how the newModel 3000A crosshead can improve your efficiency andbottom line.Wendell Whipple, Vice President, Global Aftermarket Sales, said: “In ad- dition to new lines the Model 3000A crosshead can be integrat- ed into an existing line. In most cases existingModel 2000 cross- heads may be upgraded with this new automatic technology”. Extrusion Control Systemenables toMaximize Throughput whileMaintaining Tight Tolerances An innovative extrusion control systemfor wire and cable pro- vides accurate control of grams-per-meter yield, improves prod- uct integrity, and reduces operating costs, it was announced by Maguire Europe, which will highlight the system at Wire 2020 (Hall 10, Stand D37). The Maguire + Syncro™ extrusion control system can be de- ployed in extrusion or coextrusion operations and in new or retrofit installations. Using data from a digital post-extrusion encoder and tachometer, the system adjusts extruder screw RPM and capstan speed to ensure tight coating tolerances and end-product consistency. In coextrusion, ratio control provides accurate dimensions for multiple sheathing layers or identifying stripes. There are three basic components in the Maguire + Syncro sys- tem: 1) the Maguire ® WXB™ Weigh Extrusion Blender, which incorporates a gain-in-weight (GIW) weigh bin and a loss-in- weight (LIW) mix chamber; 2) the Maguire 4088 controller, which controls the loading, blending, and metering of raw material to the extrusion process; and 3) the Syncro ® control- ler, which uses the consumption data from the 4088 controller and the downstreamencoders to adjust line speed and haul-off. Modes of extrusion control available with the Maguire + Syncro system include grams permeter (or ounces per foot) of extruded product and kilograms (or pounds) per hour. “Given the high speeds in wire and cable extrusion, any coating errors can quickly escalate into severe rejection rates, extensive Model 3000A