Techni-Mold Hydraulic Compression Molding Press for Rubber & Silicone
The TMP TECHNI-MOLD Hydraulic Compression Press for molding rubber & silicone parts has been for over 25 years TMP's principle product line supplied to hundreds of satisfied and repeat customers. TMP has lead the industry incorporating technological advancements to these presses and the molding process.
Types of Compression Molding Processes:
TMP offers a variety of press types and associated automation for compression-molding of rubber and silicone:
- Straight Compression Molding
- Hydraulic Transfer Presses
- Hydraulic Vacuum Press
TMP Standard Hydraulic Compression Molding Press Components:
Press Frame
- Slab-Side type Press - A Vacuum chamber can be readily incorporated into this frame design
- Four-Post type presses - TMP uses high-tensile rods with over-size diameters, which are identically machined with square shoulder to maintain crosshead parallelism
- C-Frame and Window Frame types are available for special applications
Platens
- TMP Electrically-heated platens are uniquely designed for uniform heat distribution and temperature control. TMP has designs for high-temperature applications.
- TMP Oil-heated platens are also available. This method provides very accurate and uniform temperature over a wide range of molding applications.
- TMP Steam-heated platens are efficient for temperatures to 360°F (150PSI) TMP platens have individual steam traps for better uniformity over systems with a single trap.
Press Ram & Main Cylinder
- TMP's Ram-Cylinder designs are a heavy duty and rated to 3000PSI. The designs contain special guiding and sealing to provide accurate alignment, reduced wear.
Press Crosshead
- Machined from thick solid steel plate to minimize deflection.
Moving Bolster Assembly
- TMP's Bolsters are machined steel, ground flat and parallel. Bolster guides are heavy-duty and are temperature-compensating in their configuration, allowing constant clearances to maintain parallelism.
Hydraulic System
The TMP press Hydraulic System is a proven for its efficiency and long-term reliability. These hydraulics combined with TMP's advanced controls provide press control, accuracy and flexibility unmatched in the industry. The system includes:
- Hydraulic unit, consisting of a steel constructed reservoir, pump, motor. Features are built-in such as slow decompression, to eliminate hydraulic shock and extend operating longevity.
- Ram pre-fill system with side cylinders for fast closing speeds A "kidney loop" for proper filtration
- Ram pressure control of the machine using CPS Controls is accomplished by a very accurate and maintenance-free proportional closed-loop hydraulic pressure control valve and associated electronics.
- Dual transducers are used for back-up and reliability of pressure control to maintain calibration.
TMP Advanced Controls Systems
TMP offers two standard Controls packages for molding rubber and silicone. The BPS Control Package, although basic, provides programmable control of pressures, times, allowing for bump cycles, and platen temperature control. It includes a microprocessor and an LCD display to enter recipes and compare actual process values to pre-programmed settings.
The industry's most versatile system is the TMP CPS Compression (Vacuum) Press Control System. This is a PLC-based system designed to improve product quality through better pressing accuracy, repeatability, versatile process control programming and monitoring of data for analysis. Components of the system include:
- NEMA-type enclosure mounted to the side of the press.
- PLC to provides for internal control (PID) of all the temperature loops/zones, machine diagnostics, log sequences, etc.
- Color TFT Touch-screen Interface for input and display of all machine parameters and process data.
- Visual Alarms for temperature and pressure faults.
- The structure of the PLC offers the capability for connections to a highway communication system/network (LAN) or other computer systems
Combined with electronic proportional valving and linear displacement transducers, control of compression rates and/or velocities, as well as pressures and times, is attainable through the operator interface.
Scope of Supply
TMP current press specifications cover a wide range of design parameters:
| Tonnages |
5-3,000 tons |
| Platen dimensions |
5" - 14 feet |
| Closing speeds |
40 to 300 inches / minute |
| Platen heating |
Oil, Electric, Steam |
| Number of Daylights |
1-20 |
| Hydraulic pressures |
Up to 3,000 psi |
| Hydraulic preferences |
Rexroth, Bosch |
| Control Processors |
Allen Bradley, Siemens TI |
| Operator Interfaces |
Allen Bradley, Maple |
TMP Compression and Vacuum-Compression Press Optional Features and Upgrades
TMP can customize your molding process with press design options and enhanced automation. They include:
- A Hydraulic Transfer Cylinder added to a slab side or post press, for hot pot transfer molding
- Hydraulic Upgrades for Precision Control of Speeds and Pressures
- Electrical Control Options
- Multi-Press Systems with consolidated controls and hydraulics
- Platen upgrades for higher temperatures, or cooling passages
- Mold and/or Platen Shuttle Systems
- Part knock-out stations
- Shuttles for transfer molding sprue-plate removal
- Transfer pot feeding systems