Splitting hairs i think but enough differentiation from other Die-Cast Machines, while not infringing on Engel/CIP/Apple IP (cause its Hot-Crucible) to secure patents, Professor Li is shrewd, he is our CEO/COB and biggest LQMT holder. Can't get better than that.
2 METAL MOLDING PROCESS OVERVIEW Amorphous Liquidmetal® parts are formed in one of two ways: on a?cold crucible molding system or a hot-crucible molding system. Each platform offers the same great benefits of Liquidmetal technology, with?small differences to better manufacture a wide range of applications. The Liquidmetal molding process begins with crystalline material, which is automatically loaded into the machine for melting. Liquidmetal alloy ingots weighing up to 350 grams (depending on the process) are heated under vacuum to protect the alloys from unwanted contamination, such as exposure to oxygen. When the alloy is fully molten, the metal is injected under pressure into permanent steel molds similar to conventional plastic injection molds. Mold temperatures are controlled to cool and solidify the Liquidmetal alloy into final part geometries until the part is ready for ejection. By the time the part is ejected from the mold it has achieved full material properties in this single-step molding process. Parts can be designed to include the same level of three-dimensional complexity as plastic injection molded parts.
COLD-CRUCIBLE SYSTEM The cold-crucible molding machines used for the Liquidmetal process replace a conventional plastic injection molding screw and barrel assembly with a special injection unit tailored for the Liquidmetal process. The injection of amorphous metals is completely different from traditional plastics processing, requiring precise control over melt temperatures and viscosities while under vacuum. In partnership with ENGEL, Liquidmetal® Technologies has developed a machine that can process amorphous alloys, the e-motion: Liquidmetal edition. The injection molding machine has a very efficient, compact material melting and injection system with a melt chamber that holds the cylindrical rod or ingot. The ingot is heated to a molten state by a special induction heating system that heats the material to temperatures >1000°C. Once the alloy is molten, the material is injected into the mold using profile parameters that are similar to conventional plastic injection molding. The entire system is kept under an extreme vacuum level to prevent the formation of crystals and oxides, allowing for the best possible amorphous alloy parts. Cycle times for the Liquidmetal process range from two to three minutes (i.e., mold close to open). A sophisticated and real time control system manages the end-to-end molding process—including data recording, sensors, safety, maintenance, and the challenge of managing the entire injection cycle. The machine carefully controls each parameter for precise part-to-part repeatability. The molding process is automated to provide hands-free continuous production. Ingots are loaded into the melt chamber using a servo-driven robot. After ingot insertion, the robot then removes the finished parts from the previous molding cycle within the same sequence, and places them onto a conveyor belt with integrated cooling fans. Once parts have been injection molded, they are ready to use except for removing gates and runners. To remove gates and runners, there are a few suitable approaches depending on the requirements of the finished part. If slight gate vestige is acceptable, waterjet cutting can be used. In cases where little or no gate witness is desired, CNC machining can be employed to remove the gate and runner system.
HOT-CRUCIBLE SYSTEM The hot-crucible molding of amorphous metals is different than the die casting of traditional die cast materials. The main difference is that Liquidmetal® hot-crucible molding machines replace the traditional melt and injection system on a horizontal die-casting machine. Like the cold-crucible system, amorphous metals require precise control over melt temperatures and viscosities while under vacuum. Liquidmetal Technologies established a cross-license agreement with Asia- based EONTEC, which has developed a hot-crucible amorphous molding system. By the machine’s nature of hot-crucible design, the injection unit is very different than that of the injection molding machine developed with ENGEL. Regardless of the differences, the ingot is also heated to a molten state by a special induction heating system that heats the material to temperatures >1000°C under vacuum to protect the alloy. Like the cold-crucible molding machine, the hot-crucible molding process is automated to provide hands-free continuous production. Ingots, or granulated material, are loaded into the melt chamber using a servo-driven robot. After ingot insertion, the robot then removes the finished parts from the previous molding cycle within the same sequence, and places them onto a conveyor belt with integrated cooling fans. Again, like parts produced with the cold-crucible system, once parts have been formed, they are ready to use except for removing gates and runners.
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