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Quick and easy moulding resin quality monitoring

A Tinius Olsen product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 24, 2001

Hounsfield's modular MP600 Melt Flow Indexer equipment is designed to measure pre-process raw material variations and highlight potential operational problems post-process

New from Hounsfield Test Equipment is the range of modular MP600 Melt Flow Indexer (MFI) equipment, specifically designed to meet the resin flow rate measurement requirements of quality control engineers working in the polymer industry.

"In control" equipment such as the MFI saves time and money by measuring pre-process raw material variations and highlighting potential operational problems post-process which, undetected, could adversely affect the performance of the finished component or product.

Robust and reliable in a manufacturing or laboratory environment, the Hounsfield MFI is ideal for resin producers, processors, converters and compounders.

Technicians can monitor accurately the quality of resins being used in blow, injection or extrusion moulding processes by conducting a quick, simple test.

The dual zone heating system guarantees precise control of the bore up to 450C with an accuracy of 0.1C, meeting the key parameter for ensuring repeatable results over time.

The modular design of the MFI offers customers a range of options to suit their individual testing needs and budget, with models including: * Basic Method A - a low cost option for manual testing capability.

* Basic Method B - for automatically timed testing.

* Fully Automatic Method B with a motorised weight lift - for testing weights in excess of 10kg.

* Method A or B - with PC Windows-based testing software.

Consistent with its reputation for quality, Hounsfield provides technical support and advice to all customers through high calibre, multi-lingual staff located at its headquarters in Redhill, Surrey, UK.

To provide maximum versatility and return on the initial investment, MFI systems can be upgraded on-site at any time from Method A to Method B, or to a software controlled system.

Mary Ann Kettleson, Laboratory Supervisor at BP Amoco, USA confirms: "It was so straightforward - we upgraded from manual to automatic Method B in hours".

The melt test software is designed to automate the process further and allows users to generate and print traceable test reports or trend charts that give immediate feedback to the process controllers.

A multiple input platform enables up to 10 MFI machines to be controlled from a single PC, with data correlated into a single process control report and chart.

The MP600, which can accommodate PP, HDPE, ABS, LDPE, PVC and other polymers, is easily configured to perform tests in accordance with the major international testing standards, including ISO 1133, BS 2782, DIN 53735, ASTM D1238 and JIS K7210.

Current users of the equipment include some of the world's leading resin manufacturers, including Bayer, Exxon/Mobil, Shell, Dow/Union Carbide, Nova and Chevron.

The investment made by such organisations in the Hounsfield MFI is testimony to its ability to consistently perform the reliable, repeatable tests that are so vital in a quality control environment.

(This was Engineeringtalk's Top Story on 21 December 2001).

(This was Engineeringtalk's Top Story on 21 December 2001).

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