Automatic Powder compacting and Parts Handing Systems Report

In this report, PTX-Pentronix, Inc. (USA), an innovative manufacturer and distributor of powder compacting equipment, presents an integrated, automatic powder compacting and parts handling system (Fig.1). The PTX line of "Multipak" powder compacting presses and "Multi-Loader" automatic part loaders are designed for the high-performance, high-precision, and high-volume technical ceramics industry, and the equipment can be offered as a single press or loader, or as a complete system.

Fig. 1 - A typical automatic system showing a 4 ton anvil press and loader. (Click photo to enlarge)

The complete system consists of a dry-pressing, mechanical powder-compacting press, an accept/reject quality-control monitor, an automatic robotic parts handler, and an optional infeed sagger magazine. Fig. 2 shows a typical PTX integrated, automatic powder compacting parts handling system with a 6 ton 3-mode press.

Fig. 2 - A typical automatic system showing a 6 ton 3-mode press and loader. (Click photo to enlarge)

The "Mulitpak" press (Fig. 3) feeds the parts into the parts conveyor (2). The parts are then monitored by the quality control production load monitor (8), with user-defined limits. It can be pre-set to shut down the press if a certain number of bad parts have been recorded. The production load monitor also contains an overload pre-set so as not to damage the tooling in the press.

Fig. 3 - Schematic diagram of a typical automatic powder compacting and parts handling system. (Click photo to enlarge)

The accepted parts are then passed further along the parts conveyor (2), until they reach the multi-loader. Meanwhile, the infeed sagger magazine (3) feeds empty saggers onto the automatic indexing conveyor (6). The parts are then loaded into the saggers via the pick and place assembly (5) with barrier media being dispensed between the layers of the parts. The saggers then continue along to the end of the automatic indexing conveyor, where they can be stored in an outfeed sagger magazine, manually unloaded or directed to the kiln by another conveyor system for firing.

This process is and was useful for numerous applications (Fig. 4), and now the process has been refined for small and large-volume production. Manually layering the parts in the sagger was for the obvious purpose of achieving a higher density in the furnace, but the drawback was the sticking together of parts during firing. This problem was over come by spreading a sand-type barrier media over each layer, and the introduction of the optional automatic parts barrier media dispensing unit (4) has made this process fully automatic. This manner of high-volume loading and stacking of pressed parts into the saggers for firing increases total yield by eliminating all handling damage to delicate parts, and optimizing kiln space.

Fig. 4 - Typical ceramic parts produced by an automatic powder compacting and parts handling system.

Powder-compacting systems supplied by PTX-Pentronix are being used in a variety of applications worldwide. Presently these machines are in operation in the electronics and structural ceramic industries, as well as in other capacities for the powdered metal industry. In response to customer needs for increased parts production, PTX-Pentronix has become an innovator in automatic powder compacting and parts handling systems.