MuCell for small presses.

Microcellular foaming of smaller precision parts, such as for electrical/electronic applications, is now possible with the introduction of the Series III MuCell system from Trexel Inc., Woburn, Mass. It is the first cost-effective MuCell system for injection molding machines using screws of 40 mm or smaller diam. With the previous System II, screw sizes this small required an add-on pulse dosing system that added too much cost for small-machine applications.

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The Series III also is the first all-electric discontinuous pulse dosing system for metering the foaming gas (usually nitrogen or C[O.sub.2]). It uses an electric motor instead of pneumatic pumps, which is expected to reduce maintenance by 50% compared with the Series II MuCell system. Demand for shop air at start-up drops to 0.05 Scfm at 65 psi for the Series III, vs. 90 Scfm at 80 psi with the Series II. The new system is designed to take a supply of gas from a high-pressure cylinder and feed it to an electric-driven piston that compresses the gas to a preset operating pressure.

The new system can be integrated by licensed injection machine makers into smaller machine designs, or it can be purchased from Trexel as a stand-alone package for molders who do not want an integrated system. The Series III is priced between $55,000 and $75,000 and includes the supercritical fluid (SCF) dosing system, interface kit, and operating rights. The new system is already offered as an option on small machines from Arburg and Engel. Tel: [phone] www.trexel.com