Milacron, a leading industrial technology company serving the plastics processing industry, is empowering career development by delivering a Milacron-FANUC Roboshot that is fully integrated with iMFLUX technologies to the American Injection Molding (AIM) Institute.
Mould school
The technology in the ROBOSHOT all-electric injection moulding machine is a direct result of years of partnership and insight between Milacron and FANUC.
Integrating iMFLUX technology into machine controls is considered a more economical route to faster cycles and improved quality, with benefits including improved balancing of high-cavitation moulds such as caps, closures, and consumer product applications. Additional benefits can be attributed to capabilities in recognising a change in melt viscosity and adjusted filling to maintain consistent low pressure while achieving consistent part weights.
Andy Stirn, Director of New Product Development for Milacron Injection Molding and Extrusion, said: “Milacron was the first to present iMFLUX integrated directly into the machine’s controller, allowing the operator to modify settings through a single screen. At Milacron, we’re always looking for ways to help our customers succeed. Milacron began offering this capability in 2018 and has set the standard for fully integrated IMFLUX capability inside our control systems.”
Career development impact
AIM offers a variety of courses for injection moulders. Regardless of job function, it is critical to understand all four disciplines in the injection moulding process: plastic materials, mould design, injection moulding processing, and part design; as well as how each of these affects the final part. The ‘Molders’ Series’ curriculum is designed for processors of all experience levels and has the potential to benefit hundreds of students each year. Students can enter the series at the level appropriate to their current experience, and exit when they have achieved their desired knowledge and skills.
The Roboshot will benefit multiple courses offered through AIM, further the AIM Institute partnership with iMFLUX, and provide training on proprietary process control technology. Classes held at AIM’s headquarters include ‘Introduction to iMFLUX’ and ‘Applied iMFLUX processing’. Both courses result in the ability to set up and adjust an iMFLUX process and the skills to convert a conventional moulding process to one utilising iMFLUX.
AIM Director David Hoffman said: “The demand for experts in this industry is not slowing. We are working to eliminate knowledge gaps through catered courses that fill the needs of working professionals. Our students inherit our research-based practices and skills from our specialised educators, geared towards their specific occupation. Students will be capable of adapting the latest techniques to tackle new obstacles in the industry that are relevant now and in the future.”
AIM’s learning model also optimises the opportunity for retention, helping ensure that students remember what they have learned.
The partnership between Milacron and AIM is critical to conduct new research and techniques for methods in parts processing and manufacturing. This analysis will be distributed amongst AIM graduates, but also to leaders in the industry on how to reform plastics processing.
