New way to solve mold-filling problems.

"In-Mold Adjustable Rheological Control," or iMARC, is a new tooling concept that provides an externally adjustable means of varying how melt flows in a cavity without in any way restricting the flow (unlike valve gates, for example). Now in beta testing, iMARC is a further development of the Melt Flipper technology from Beaumont Technologies, Inc., Erie, Pa. Whereas the Melt Flipper is a static design, iMARC is adjustable. While the Melt Flipper balances filling of multiple small cavities by reorienting the high-shear and low-shear melt "laminates" (zones of laminar flow) within the runner, iMARC applies the same concept to managing melt distribution within a cavity. It could be applied to small parts like connectors or larger automotive parts. It splits, rotates, and rejoins the melt laminates to reshape the flow front. This lets you put the hottest, lowest viscosity melt where it can help alleviate weld lines, warpage, and gas traps without changing gate sizes or locations or taking the mold out of the press.

For example, the illustration shows how a cavity normally fills with the hotter, high-shear melt (red) along the cavity walls and cooler, more viscous melt (blue) in the center (A). With iMARC, you could change the shape of the flow front by moving the hotter melt to the center (B) or to one side (C).

Like the Melt Flipper, iMARC is a small mold insert that can be placed near a gate. However, it can be adjusted from the parting line to change the angle of rotation of the melt laminates. An iMARC insert can also be placed in a runner as a "tuneable" version of the Melt Flipper to balance mold filling. Tel: [phone] * PTDirect: 224VF

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