User Guide v 2.0 — March 2023 Color Change
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Chapter 13 Color Change
Injection mold companies are sometimes required to make many of the same parts in
different colors to satisfy customer demands. This is especially prevalent in consumer
electronics and packaging markets. This has an impact on injection mold production where
fast color change is important.
Husky and Chem-Trend have worked together to create a process using Chem-Trend’s Ultra
Purge purging compounds that is designed specifically to reduce color-change time and
carbon formation in hot runners. Step-by-step instructions were created for Husky’s
Altanium controllers that outline a simple color-change process explicitly for molds with hot
runner systems.
Faster color changes are achieved by making sure the process is followed and all steps are
done in the correct order. Results have been up to 85% reduction in scrap and an 80%
increase in mold-cleaning efficiency.
The Ultra-Purge usage amount is calculated by multiplying the shot weight by the Ultra-
Purge conversion ratio. You enter the values, and the Altanium controller calculates and
stores the usage amount. The usage amount is what you reference for measuring and adding
the correct quantity of Ultra-Purge compound to the hopper of the injection molding
machine.
A cycle-count input determines the correct amount of Ultra-Purge compound by subtracting
the shot weight from the usage-amount setting after each cycle. Values are calculated and
stored by the controller, with the cycle-count input from the machine. The controller uses
this data to alert the operator when the purge compound usage amount is achieved, so the
next step can be started.
Combining the technologies of Chem-Trend’s Ultra Purge and Husky’s Altanium controllers
offers a more integrated approach to the color change and mold cleaning that makes sure
users follow the optimal process steps that result in fewer mistakes and fast, efficient color
changes with a minimal amount of material waste.
This chapter describes the Ultra Purge/Altanium controller process sequences.
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