Thermoforming Oven System for Tier One Supplier
Blasdel Enterprises custom designed a Thermoforming Oven, Pick and Place Loader and integrated Conveyor System for a GMT line for a Tier One automotive parts supplier. The 18’ long x 7’ wide top and bottom horizontal infrared oven and conveyor has a pick and place robot which loads from both sides of the oven entrance.
The oven contains 36 heat zones for maximum efficiency, even heat control and flexibility for different blank sizes and six indexing zones for a ramp-soak process. It utilizes ceramic panel emitters to heat the customer’s reinforced fiberglass plastic (GMT) blanks to an optimum temperature for even flow on their thermoforming line for automotive interior parts. The design includes eight insulated doors with viewing windows. The stainless-steel wire mesh belt conveyor is integrated into the oven structure. An auxiliary conveyor on the exit end of the oven allows ease of unloading the parts once heated and prototyping. The conveyor will be sequenced with the customer’s proprietary unloading and press loading robot. Blasdel built and supplied NEMA 12, UL 508A Rated Control Panels for complete operation of the oven, conveyor and loader system. A PLC with a touchscreen is utilized for the heat control, conveyor and loader. The pick and place robot utilizes a rack and pinion modular actuator with guide rails to travel to either side of the conveyor entrance. Parts are picked from pallets provided by the customer. The pick and place robot will load blanks on the conveyor with each index utilizing pneumatic cups.
To comply with safety regulations, a safety cage was custom designed to surround the entrance of the oven encompassing the oven entrance, the loader and magazines. The safety cage has two manual opening gantry doors with cable and counterbalance and is constructed of expanded metal for maximum durability. There is a hinged panel in the safety cage for access to the conveyor entrance.
This system is very flexible for many applications that need top and bottom heat conveyed through a continuous system. The pick and place loader is capable of loading different flat substrates and would be customized for your application.
Our full line of industrial ovens includes Paint and Powder Coating Ovens, Thermoforming Oven Systems, Adhesive Curing, High Volume Air and Convection Ovens plus material handling equipment.
Established in 1982, Blasdel Enterprises is an innovative leader for custom design and fabrication of industrial ovens and material handling equipment. With equipment in the field for over 35 years, our reputation shows that we excel at all heat and motion technologies. Our full line of industrial ovens includes electric infrared ovens, gas catalytic ovens, high-velocity air or convection ovens, thermoforming ovens and other custom ovens for curing or drying. To meet your short and large production run requirements, we build batch systems as well as indexing and continuous conveyor systems. The flexibility of your oven can be enhanced through the integration of special material handling systems, independent control zones and automated loading systems. Our ovens are built to NFPA-86 Standards for Ovens and Furnaces.
We are a UL-508A rated control panel shop for the US and Canada. Also, we can enhance your system by integrating conveyors, pick and place robots and other specialty equipment.