JOHNSON PRECISION, INC.

INSERT MOLDING/OPERATOR ASSISTED MOLDING

Many companies seem to prefer lights-out manufacturing - set up the equipment with sufficient resins, press the start button and leave it alone for a few hours to produce parts.  While that is certainly an efficient manufacturing technique it cannot account for the myriad of intricate devices that need to be finessed. 

There are numerous devices which need to be embedded or over molded in plastic and other composites.  Also, device developers know that full robotic automation for many types of devices is simply cost prohibitive, particularly on certain relatively short-run productions (10's and 100's of thousands of units) as in the medical research and development arena. 

Additionally, many post production procedures accounting for shrink factors, controlled forming, and inspection can be performed during the cycle times of subsequent parts, leveraging machine operator time most efficiently.

Insert molding specialists, JPI production employees are adept at keeping insert molding jobs running at peak efficiency.

 

Smart Camera Mold Monitoring System (SCMMS)

Challenged to meet the twin demands for high accuracy, operator assisted, insertion molds and the limitation of “operator error”, JPI offers significant mold security through its smart camera mold monitoring system.  See SCMMS press release on our News page.

Custom designed on-site this sophisticated camera ensemble monitors mold cavities during the “mold open” cycle to confirm full ejection/removal of the previous part and full compliance with cavity preparation (ie. insertion of components to be over-molded) before subsequent molding cycles.  Succinctly, if the camera does not like what it sees in a pre-determined “view” in and around the cavity, the molding cycle is interrupted, alerting an operator.

The goals are self-evident; prevent mold damage, prevent component damage, prevent costly repairs and stay on schedule.  It also has the ancillary benefit of being a redundant safety device for operators.

Installed in stages over the past year, SCMMS is gaining traction at JPI.  Integration with its quality control system is on the drawing board together with additional manufacturing applications.

The SCMMS application utilizes image comparison of the live field view with pre-set images or criteria, checking for, among other common molding matters, stray insert components or “drool” that may result from hot resins waiting for the next cycle.

For more information about JPI's insert/operator assisted molding and SCMMS cababilities, contact Kevin M. St.Onge at 908.233.8753 or sales@jpi-plastics.com.