Dual Die Bed Press and Cure Control

Opportunity

An international customer involved in manufacture of heavy vehicle brake systems need temperature control for a fill, press and cure application. The application will cure friction material compounds to various die set impressions. This company wished to improve the process by introducing a dual die bed by allowing filling action for die set together press & cure was taking place on the other die set at the same timing.

Problem

The large die sets (4 feet square) each have several impressions that require uniform heating. The platen design incorporated 16 heaters in two bands of eight. Two zones needed to be control, which gave total 32 heaters being control. This design required the two outer heaters of each bank to be at a higher rating to compensate for edge losses. Individual thermocouples would be required for each impression of the die. The control enclosure must allow for all controllers, fuses, isolators, a PLC data logger, and power switching devices. Lastly, the unit must be reliable and operate in a harsh environment of noise, vibration and airborne pollutants.