Costly and Seemingly Intractable Problems Can Have Simple and Inexpensive Solutions

Sometimes costly and seemingly intractable problems can have simple and inexpensive solutions.Such is the case with the platenGUARD, the first product from the new firm of Advanced Concepts & Precision Components (ACPC) LLC, Wauconda, Ill.The firm was started by Tony Cerniglia, an experienced inventor of plastics injection tooling solutions.His latest is an elegant answer to the risk of damage from the locating ring striking the press platen when mounting injection molds.Locating rings—a humble but essential component of every injection mold—are easy to replace, but filing and stoning a dinged platen is a significant expense of time and money.Leaving any such platen damage (and resulting loss of parallelism) unrepaired risks mold flashing and further tool damage. ACPC’s platenGUARD is a steel locating ring with an elastomer “bumper” added to cushion any impact with the platen.The elastomer withstands up to 500 F continuously and can be custom colored and printed with a company logo.By averting accidental damage, the device can help speed mold setting, according to ACPC.Even if the bumper is somehow destroyed in use, that still leaves a conventional locating ring that performs as usual.The platenGUARD will debut this month at NPE. Source:Plastics Technology