New parison controller makes set-up a 'breeze.' (for plastics blow molding)

A new stand-alone parison controller from Barber-Colman Co., Loves Park, Ill., is designed for easy set-up and simple installation. Intended to be retrofitted on existing machines, the MACO Breeze 6000 controller is supplied preconfigured for most blow molding applications. It's said to offer a cost-effective way to incorporate precise parison control without the need to invest in a MACO 6000 total machine controller.

PRECONFIGURED AT THE FACTORY

The Breeze 6000 is preconfigured with the appropriate software and wiring by Barber-Colman, saving users the time and expense of programming the controller, according to product manager Bart Polizotto. "People can specify the type of application or machines they have, and we preload the proper sequence programming and screen programming into the unit."

Five different types of standard time- or position-based programs can be preloaded: continuous extrusion with single or dual heads, position-based single accumulator with single or dual heads, and position-based dual accumulators with dual heads. Polizotto says these five configurations probably cover 85% of the market, and users with applications that fall outside the five have the option of programming the controller's four analog channels themselves.

The unit is an all-in-one package that comes wired for the machine type specified by the customer. After connecting the prewired cables, the installer follows the wiring diagram shipped with the Breeze 6000 to connect the wires to the proper points on the machine.

SOPHISTICATED CONTROL

Once the unit is installed, the user calibrates the tool and/or accumulator and enters the desired parison profile. The 100-point parison profile is displayed graphically on a large electroluminescent display. This enables the user to quickly modify the profile and compare it to the actual process value. The entered profiles can then be stored internally or on removable memory cartridges that can hold 15-20 recipes.

The Breeze 6000 updates parison tooling position every 0.1 millisec to help optimize material usage and part quality. Other control features include 100-point velocity push-out control and separate weight and die-gap settings. To keep operation simple, the number of operator screens has been limited to nine, and the user interface also includes 24 pushbuttons with pre-assigned functions. SPC charts (x-bar, R, and histograms) are standard, as is a log of the last 100 SPC calculations. SPC charts can be printed out through an RS-232 port. A security feature allows operators to be supplied codes that lock out set-up information, providing access to the operating screens only.

The Breeze 6000 is priced at $8900 with no add-ons for options - all functions are standard. It uses the same internal cards as the MACO 6000 total machine controller. This allows users of both systems to stock fewer spare parts.