'It will open molders' eyes...': computer data collection will create a whole new way of buying machines.'It Will Open Molders' Eyes...' Computer-based process-data-collection systems are a powerful new tool in the hands of plastics processors. One user of such a system describes it as like having x-ray vision In fictional stories, X-ray vision has generally been portrayed as the ability to see through layers of objects at the discretion of the holder of this superpower. People often pretend to have this ability through the use of X-ray glasses, which are a special type of "joke-around" to see what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. inside the machine. Another custom molder mold·er v. mold·ered, mold·er·ing, mold·ers v.intr. To crumble to dust; disintegrate. v.tr. To cause to crumble. See Synonyms at decay. has used computer graphs of machine performance to call a supplier's attention to defective components. That same firm has used the computer to carefully document the performance of a brand-new machine in order to establish a baseline from which to compare performance as the press ages. And a third molder is using a computer monitoring Recording a user's activity on the computer. Computer monitoring programs are used to determine how much time an employee spends on various tasks as well as possible illicit activities. system to evaluate the performance of different types of open- and closed-loop controls on its injection machines. One maker of computer monitoring systems believes they will prove invaluable as a means of qualifying new machines prior to purchase by means of a statistical "capability study" of machine variability. He says such systems "are going to open processors' eyes, so they will be able to know a good machine from a bad one. They will also be able to tell a good resin from a bad one, and they will know when their process runs well and when it doesn't." One who agrees is James R. Humbert, v.p. of sales and marketing at Automatic Technologies, Inc., parent of Automatic Molded mold 1 n. 1. A hollow form or matrix for shaping a fluid or plastic substance. 2. A frame or model around or on which something is formed or shaped. 3. Something that is made in or shaped on a mold. Plastics in South Bend South Bend, city (1990 pop. 105,511), seat of St. Joseph co., N Ind., on the great south bend of the St. Joseph River, in a farming and mint-growing region; inc. as a city 1865. , Ind., and Grant & Roth Plastics, Hillsboro, Ore. After having his eyes opened by a capability study of its existing machines, he's thinking of a new way of purchasing: "Show me your capability studies," he would say to prospective vendors. "A machine should be proven capable before we buy it. We shouldn't be worrying about gauging molded parts off the press--we should know the press is capable before that part even comes out." Humbert is Humbert I, 1844–1900, king of Italy (1878–1900), son and successor of Victor Emmanuel II. A soldier by training, Humbert showed interest primarily in military affairs and foreign policy, and early expectations of his tolerance and liberalism were largely not alone there. Darrell Pufahl, general manager of Metro Molding, Inc. in Noblesville, Ind., is already a believer in machine capability studies and foresees that they will eventually play a role in Metro's machine selections: "I think that's how machines will be purchased in the future." Next month, we'll present results of a capability study of several hundred injection machines actually in production, comparing machines made in the U.S., Asia and Europe, large and small machines, and new machines with old ones that have been retrofitted with new closed-loop controls. Those data should open some eyes! |
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