Extrusion International 2-2024

61 Extrusion International 2/2024 and (optional) 100% pipe cover- age. This inline system is specifi - cally designed to measure smooth walled and corrugated pipes to give maximum flexibility. Thanks to advanced chip technology, our WARP systems are reliably accu- rate and efficient. iXRAY X-ray measuring system The non-contact iXRAY X-ray technology measures the diameter and wall thickness of single and multi-layer pipes and hoses with precision. The advanced 3-axis technology measures twice the number of points of a 2-axis sys- tem, resulting in improved oval- ity detection. These systems are versatile and perfectly suited for aluminum multilayer pipes, fabric- reinforced pressure hoses, pipes, and cables. One of the main challenges many manufacturers face today is fulfilling increasingly complex product and quality control requirements while at the same time experiencing a shortage of labor. Improving efficiency and achieving the highest level of accuracy is not pos- sible without systematic process automation. As a solution provider for pipe extrusion, automation is therefore guiding principle from iNOEX. Combining gravimetry with a measuring system and control tech- nology is the key to increasing productivity, significantly reducing costs, and at the same time ensuring the high- est level of quality possible. Furthermore, when rawma- terials are used efficiently, you move closer to achieving the sustainability goals and securing the competitive advantage for the future. Gravimetry Every raw material is subject to fluctuations in bulk density. Gravimetric weighing allows fluctuations inmass throughput to be recorded and automatically balanced out. In principle, gravimetry offers two control options: mass throughput control and meter weight control. Mass throughput control: The extruder speed is ad- justed to the material feed into the extruder. Weight per meter control: The haul-off speed is con- trolled based on the amount of material fed into the extruder. This keeps the weight per meter constant and eliminates fluctuations in wall thickness in the direction of extrusion. The smaller fluctuations also reduce the target wall thickness, saving material. Measuring system The wall thickness measuring system is integrated into the production line and offers additional control op- tions during the extrusion process. The systemmeasures important parameters such as diameter, wall thickness, ovality, and eccentricity. Thin point control: This is where the pipe or tube is first measured. The thinnest point defines the control section. The control system then calculates the new tar- get value for the weight per meter and adjusts the haul- off speed, which also changes the wall thickness. As a result, the system records fluctuations in mass throughput and wall thickness so adjustments can be made. This ensures a further reduction in weight per meter. Wall thicknesses are significantly reduced while the minimum wall thickness is maintained. Further control options Thermal die head centering for PVC pipes helps save material. The measurement data from the measuring system can be used as a starting point for manual pipe centering. The wall thickness distribution and pipe ge- ometry are recorded by the measuring system and tem- perature adjustments are then made according to the optimum wall thickness and pipe geometry. New target values are defined and set for the temperature zones. The resulting change in melting speed in the heating zone reduces eccentricity. This leads to a further reduc- tion in the weight per meter and optimal end products. iNOEX GmbH Maschweg 70, 49324 Melle, Deutschland www.inoex.de SAVEOMAT – gravimetric system AUREX – ultrasonic system