Software upgrade improves press setup & monitoring.

New versions of software that automates and optimizes setup and control of injection molding and that provides real-time production management are available from Moldflow Corp., Wayland, Mass. First, Moldflow Plastics Xpert (MPX) version 4.2 is said to shorten setup times by tracking and eliminating more than one defect at a time. MPX has been updated to support viscosity control, a procedure that maintains part quality by adjusting melt temperature to compensate for changes in material viscosity due to moisture or batch-to-batch variations. Improved reporting in MPX 4.2 is said to give management a complete view of the data collected and results obtained during setup and optimization to improve parts traceability. And MPX now runs on the same operator interface as Moldflow's Altanium temperature controls and Shotscope process monitor.

Moldflow also released Celltrack version 2.1, an update to its real-time system for work-order management, job scheduling, maintenance tracking, SPC/SQC, and barcode labeling. Version 2.1 offers new SPC options to allow monitoring of new process parameters and enhanced SPC/SQC profile displays with unlimited animated overlays for diagnosing manufacturing problems. Part traceability is improved through recording every event, and parts can now be labeled as good, bad, or quarantined. The scheduler provides better visibility of estimated completion dates. Tel: [phone] * PTDirect: 366LT