Simple Solutions That Work! Issue 15

28 The foundry industry is an old industry and not one to easily add new automation that they had never seen before. Laugle does not fit this old stereotype. As with all system installations, communication and planning is critical - no detail is too small. Once the molding machine concept was determined, there were many decisions to make and lots of information to gather. FOR THIS PROJECT, NECESSITIES WERE: • Upgrade the existing mixer from 300-600 lbs. per minute. • Add the latest technology in sand/resin/reporting technology using a 3-part PUNB system. • Plan on the removal of the existing manual line, compaction table, wiring, plumbing, gas lines, air lines, Ethernet cabling, etc. • Schedule the removal of old equipment with the arrival of the new equipment (Transition space wasn’t available and the cost of rented equipment needed to be as low as possible.) • Prewire and preplumb as much as possible while running the existing system layout and prepare the mold discharge conveyor, and move the existing mold closing crane to the new position. • Add a transfer car and conveyor from the existing carousel/rollover based system to allow for closed molds from the UMM to go to the existing pouring/cooling system transfer car. • Determine that all equipment would be guarded anywhere that it was close to personnel and fork lift traffic. • Ensure all wiring/plumbing/mounting/rigging components were on the floor since this was to be a 3-day weekend install. • Schedule outside electrical and mechanical contractors. INNOVATIVE CASTINGS– 3D METAL PRINTING Innovative Castings is a complete in-house foundry. All patterns, pouring, post foundry processing and machining is completed in their sprawling campus. Recently added is a new building that houses their 3D metal & plastic printing. Along with this they also make fixturing and machine prototypes from solid billets. They are currently providing metal & plastic 3D printed parts and prototypes to die casters, foundries, especially in automotive, aerospace, and medical markets. For die casters and injection molders, metal mold tools contain channels to cool the mold. With conventional tool making methods, these cooling channels are drilled into the tool in straight lines. Metal additive manufacturing allows cooling channels to be designed and built to perfectly contour the mold. This technology is referred to as Conformal Cooling. This technology helps to improve cooling performance, increase cycle time, extend the life of the mold, and reduce waste. www. innovative-castings .com