Laser-markable compound adds extra detail
A
RTP Company product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jun 22, 2004
When designing a new control unit for its adjustable suspension system, SRAM Corp needed to find specialised materials to make the concept a reality.
In the sport of cycling where weight reduction is at a premium, SRAM Corporation, the second largest bicycle component manufacturer in the world, has pioneered the use of injection moulded engineering thermoplastic compounds supplied by custom compounder RTP Company to provide lightweight strength for many of their products.
When designing the new PopLoc control for its RockShox adjustable suspension system, specialised materials were needed to make the concept a reality.
Rather than placing the PopLoc adjustment lever on the suspension system itself, SRAM decided to place it on the handlebar to provide easy access for the rider.
The lever includes an integrated readable setting scale that permits the rider to quickly and confidently adjust damping for upcoming terrain and provide a reliable positioning reference.
SRAM chose an RTP 200A Series glass-fibre-reinforced nylon 6 compound for the control lever.
According to finish manager Patrick Brady, SPRAM already knew that the material would meet the project's structural requirements of strength, rigidity, and impact resistance.
He had specified the same material with great success in previous applications.
"This material has served us well in other components and, structurally, we knew it would perform here", he said.
Highly reinforced, the compound exhibits a tensile strength of 165MPa and flexural modulus of 11,713MPa, meeting the needs for strength and rigidity.
A notched Izod value of 214J/m provides the necessary impact resistance.
Incorporating the fine gradations of a scale, however, proved a challenging task.
Part geometry precluded moulded-in markings, and pad printing lacked the necessary durability.
Laser-marking would be the ideal method, but real success in marking reinforced nylon has been, at best, elusive.
"We were prepared to offer the product without the gradations, if necessary", said Brady.
RTP Company worked with SRAM to modify the compound to offer improved laser-marking characteristics.
"We've come to depend on RTP Company to meet our structural needs, but what really helped this project evolve was their support capabilities", Brady said.
Making use of in-house development equipment, RTP Company engineers provided moulded samples with test laser-marking patterns for Brady's review and approval.
Brady continued: "This was all accomplished in a very satisfactory time frame and left no doubt as to the success of the project".
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact RTP Company
Related Stories
- Arnitel TPC enables compact brake tubes
- Laser Lines marks code on tiny area of oil seal
- Mac3 uses RTP fire-proof materials in float switch
- Electric shaker removes scrap from stamping press
- Combined starter-alternator reduces petrol use
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
