The new SmartPower – showcased for the first time at the Fakuma 2014

The PowerSeries from WITTMANN BATTENFELD has been extended. Following the successful market launch of the all-electric EcoPower, the large machine model MacroPower and the MicroPower specially designed for injection molding of micro and nano parts, the new SmartPower is now being introduced to the market, a machine model setting benchmarks primarily by its intelligent, economical use of energy. But this is only one of the numerous smart features this new machine generation has to offer. The new SmartPower is “unlimited” in terms of precision, efficiency, compact dimensions and user-friendliness.

Smart design
As a servo-hydraulic machine with a short footprint in PowerSeries design, the SmartPower not only looks smart, but also offers the benefit of modest space requirements, which allows optimal utilization of the available production floor space. Small and compact in overall dimensions, this machine still comes with a generously dimensioned platen area. An additional advantage is its extremely easy accessibility to the injection unit as well as the open drop area for parts removal, due to the base plate being dispensed with. This makes the new SmartPower extremely easy to operate.

Intelligent, energy-saving drive system
A feature of special interest in the new SmartPower is its drive system. The machine is equipped with a new, highly energy-efficient servo-hydraulic drive system as standard, which also recommends itself by small dimensions and a low sound level. Moreover, the servo-hydraulic SmartPower comes with the same amplifier system as the all-electric EcoPower. This drive technology makes it possible to use the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) developed for the EcoPower in the SmartPower as well. KERS transforms the kinetic energy released by deceleration into electrical energy. The electrical energy recovered in this way is partly stored, used by other drive systems for parallel movements, transferred to barrel heating or used to generate the voltage for the control system. This means that the entire deceleration energy is used within the machine.  In the option with the facility for parallel machine movements, a second servo drive is added, which is specially laid out for the demands of the ejector and core pull. This ensures maximal energy efficiency and dynamism for this type of application, too.

Smart clamping unit
The SmartPower is equipped with a simple, central hydraulic clamping system. In this machine, the hydraulic blocks are integrated in the clamping side, which makes for extremely high control accuracy as well as dynamic movements. Two symmetrically positioned traveling cylinders provide force transmission with optimal mold protection. The simultaneous significant increase in traveling speed ensures short dry cycle times. A high degree of precision is achieved by operation of the moving platen via linear guides, which also minimizes lubrication requirements with the result of a very clean mold fixing area.

Smart injection unit
The proven injection unit of the hydraulic machine series with a standard screw length of 22 D has been taken over in the SmartPower. Regulation of the injection process in this machine series is effected via the highly dynamic servo drive. Its open design facilitates operation of the machine and working with material loading and drying equipment.

Smart control system
The UNILOG B6P control system, which offers a comprehensive operation and control concept for easy handling of the injection molding machines including all integrated peripheral appliances, is of course also installed on the SmartPower. It ensures easy integration of the machines into PDA systems and, above all, Internet-based service support. The SmartPower comes with facilities for web and remote servicing as well as a modern management execution system. SmartEdit, the new visual help function for parameter setting in the B6P control system, will be introduced at the Fakuma. It supplements the user programming system UPS and supports easier and faster machine setting, in particular for more complex cycles.

First-time presentation at the Fakuma 2014
The new SmartPower will be available for delivery from January 2015 in clamping force sizes from 25 to 120 t. The SmartPower will be shown for the first time at the WITTMANN BATTENFELD booth at the Fakuma 2014, in hall B1, booth 1204. On a SmartPower 60/210, a polyamide connecting rod for a compressor will be manufactured with an 8-cavity mold supplied by Greiner Assistec, Austria. A WS80 servo sprue picker from WITTMANN, also a novelty, will remove the sprue. On a SmartPower 120/350, a penholder will be produced from LSR in a 4-cavity mold supplied by Elasmo Systems, Austria. The penholders are removed, deposited on a conveyor belt and filled automatically by a W818T robot from WITTMANN.

Source: WITTMANN BATTENFELD