Among recent installations of the Thinshot systems one application stands out. Polyshot recently constructed a 32 Thinshot valve gate system (2 rows of 16 nozzles) for a consumer application that was ordered from MGS Mfg. Group in Germantown, WI.

This vertically molded application includes an overmold of a pre-stamped, .0015" thick stainless steel strip that is fed into the mold in a "reel to reel" fashion. The mold clamps over the strip and the material (K-resin) is injected through the Polyshot hot runner system, into .037" diameter valve gates and finally the 32 individual mold cavities. The strip is supported in the mold cavity by 14 strategically placed core pins. The fill pressure is critical to this particular application as the wall thickness of the overmolded material is as thin as .021".

The hot runner system also features a dual rack actuated valve gate mechanism, which is hydraulically driven with a single cylinder off to the side of the hot half system. This system was needed because of molding machine shut height limitations that required the valve pin actuation to be extremely thin.

MGS Mfg. Group is no stranger to challenging applications. With several divisions that include: Moldmakers Incorporated, TecStar Mfg. Company and Statistical Plastics Corporation, MGS Group is a big operation that has a reputation of being able to deliver on complex turn key projects with a specialty in multi material molding and equipment.

Of particular note is the Universal Multishot Systems (UMS) Portable Injection Unit/UMS Rotary Platen Unit MGS manufactures, that allows a conventional molding machine to be converted into a multimaterial machine. MGS also supplies complete automation services and equipment to complement its line of molding machinery.

Polyshot has had past experience running its hot runner systems on machines fitted with the UMS system and is particularly impressed with its ability to easily interface through the existing machine's RS232 port. The multimaterial injection unit bolts to the machine (typically the top) in about an hour, gets plugged in to the RS232 and is ready to go.

For information about the MGS Group, contact Mr. John Berg, Director of Marketing at john.berg@mgstech.com.