Index plate drive design
Breaking the accelerated mass
There are many different ways to drive an index plate in an injection mold. One of them is to have a hydraulic cylinder drive a spur rack that rotates the index plate via a pinion. Hydraulic cylinders enable very quick plate motions due to their enormous power density.
Regardless of the drive concept being used, the required deceleration of the index plate mass should always be considered as well.
This is where our engineering services come in.
CAD model
Ideally, we would receive a detailed CAD model of your index plate along with information on the materials used so we can design accordingly. In addition, we require the installed pump capacity of the system and the desired rotational speed of the index plate.
We will then use this data to calculate the energy to be absorbed in this application. Ideally, we can use a cylinder from our standard range. If that is not the case, we will develop a cushioning solution specifically calculated for this application. In some cases, e.g. where the pump output is so powerful that it would inevitably destroy the cylinder, we can use special valve blocks developed for such cases, which will protect the drive and, thus, the index plate.
In any case, you will get a complete package that is specifically tailored to your application, and all you have to do is to install it on your mold.