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Additive Process Builds Plastic Parts without Molds Arburg has developed the Arburg Plastic Freeforming (AKF) process and Freeformer machine to additively manufacture individual plastic parts without the need for molds or predefined cavities. In this process, 3D CAD files are processed directly, standard plastic granulate is melted, droplets are generated from the liquid melt, and a fully functional component is built up from these droplets layer by layer. The AKF process uses conventional plastic granulates rather than prefabricated supplies such as powders or strands that can make the material, the processing and therefore the parts more expensive. Because the Freeformer can operate without support structures and therefore produces no waste, material consumption is reduced and production is more cost-effective, the company says. The Freeformer offers conventional material processing that is said to operate in much the same way as injection molding. The machine is filled with the plastic granulate, a heated plasticizing cylinder melts the plastic in the discharge unit, a nozzle uses fast opening and closing movements to produce the plastic droplets under pressure, and the part is additively built up. The discharge unit and nozzle remain in a fixed vertical position, while the component carrier moves along three axes. A five-axis version also is available for applications that do not require any support structure. The machine also can be equipped with two discharge units to process two different materials or colors at once. As a result, even movable, hard-soft combinations or parts with a special appearance or texture can be produced, Arburg says. For more information from Arburg Inc. of Newington, CT, phone 860-667-6500 or visit arburg.us. Injection Unit Adds Multi-Shot Capability to Single-Material Molding Machines Mold-Masters has added two models, the EM4 and EM2, to its E-Multi line of portable auxiliary injection units that are designed to easily convert a single-material press into a multi-material system. The units are said to be especially suited for shops looking to economically optimize their existing injection molding machines. The mold-mounted, servo-driven injection units are portable and compact, and can add multi-shot capability to virtually any standard molding machine. A radial mounting option also is available that allows the injection unit to swing to the non-operator side for mold changes and positioning flexibility. For more information from Mold-Masters of Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, phone 905-877-0185 or visit moldmasters.com. HMCs Process Parts in Aluminum, Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Sugino Corporation's Self-Center H15 and H15B horizontal machining centers are designed for highprecision milling, drilling, tapping and boring of small- to medium-size parts in aluminum, cast iron and carbon steel. Both the H15 and H15B HMCs feature BT30 high-pressure, coolant-through spindles with maximum speeds of 15,000 rpm and 20,000 rpm, respectively. Specifically designed to save space and energy, the H15 offers a compact 4.5 x 9-ft. (1,375 x 2,750-mm) footprint, while the H15B is even more compact at 3.5 x 9 ft. (1,020 x 2,690 mm). The H15 offers a work area measuring 11.81" x 13.78" x 13.78" (300 x 350 x 350 mm) and accommodates weights as heavy as 770 lbs (350 kg), while the H15B offers a 7.87" x 7.87" x 7.87" (200 x 200 x 200-mm) work area and accommodates weights as heavy as 1,100 lbs (500 kg). For more information from Sugino Corp. of Itasca, IL, phone 630-250-8585 or visit suginocorp.com. moldmakingtechnology.com 43