For over 40 years, LSP Products Group, Inc. has been developing polymer products for the plumbing industry. With a manufacturing plant featuring 11 injection molding machines, LSP molds most of its wholesale plastic plumbing parts in the USA.
With the targeted development of two small-size plumbing products that were to be produced in ultrasonic and spin welding operations, LSP was looking for solutions to replace its manual assembly line processes and ineffective conveyor options.
"Since the welders have applied force pressure and small part size, rotary indexing tables present a perfect option for small progresssive production," said a company spokesperson. LSP's Director of Manufacturing Engineering Marshall Henningsen and Manufacturing Engineer Jim Ross began to investigate value-added possibilities by contacting WEISS North America, Inc. Discussions soon began on optimal index table engineering solutions for LSP's ultrasonic and spin welding machine designs.
Originally, LSP was planning on building and implementing its automation internally on its own chassis. However, the WEISS sales and engineering team provided LSP with a 3-D CAD model of a WEISS chassis along with a configuration proposal based on WEISS' TC (150/220) Series tables. The proposed WEISS chassis allowed LSP to implement its own automation for two machine designs.
A key design element that both machines had to address was overcoming the large downward forces (400 lbs.) from the servo driven welders, to melt plastic that was exacted onto the index table's tool plate in repeated production.
To overcome this, an anvil back-up support was designed underneath to absorb the intense loads from the welders - ultimately promoting longer production life for the tables and plates.
"The cornerstone to achieving each chassis system's goal, was implementing WEISS' third generation configuration TC heavy-duty rotary indexing tables - TC150 (six station) and TC220 (eight station)," said the spokesperson.
Both tables feature a hard coat anodized plating finish on the aluminum jig plate. This coating is essential in providing enhanced durability versus the intense downward force pressure subjected on the anvil that supports the plate.
Built for greater reliability and precision, the series features standard stationary post, center standard through hole, high-load bearing and large cam followers with needle roller bearings for the following LSP polymer plumbing part product applications:
- TC150-6 STATION / LSP PROFILE: LSP is producing a new, in-line hammer arrester made out of polymers versus traditional copper. The patented in-line polymer hammer arrester can be integrated into water connectors such as washing machines, ice makers, dishwashers or directly into the plumbing sytems piping to smooth out the pressure flucuations associated with modern appliances.
Utilized for greasing, inserting components and ultrasonic welding operations in six stations, the WEISS chassis system includes the TC150 index table (32" diameter, 3/4" thickness), tool plate, machine frame and an anvil back-up support for the tool plate.
- TC220-8 STATION / LSP PROFILE: In production of LSP's engineered polymer push-to-connect valve to be used in plumbing industry applications such as toilets, faucets, etc., LSP leveraged the WEISS eight station chassis system. The semi-automated system includes the TC220 index table (42" diameter, 3/4" thickness), tool plate, machine frame and an anvil back-up support for the tool plate.
Production features seven assembly stations and a servo spin welder station that uses radial motion to apply over 300 lbs. of force pressure to friction-weld plastic part halves. WEISS designed the anvil support located underneath the center of the tooling head to effectively offset the force applied to the parts and the table during repeated station component spin welding. In addition, the rotary table platform is built to provide accurate, level locations for pick and place automated assembly of the polymer quarter turn valve.
"Both the TC150-6 and the TC220-8 were shipped recently and the units are nearing completion of advanced production of the innovative LSP polymer plumbing parts. Notably, the inclusion of the anvil back-up support will ensure advanced longevity for the system's core index table and tool plate against repeated welding production force pressures," said the spokesperson.
"The WEISS TC150 and TC220 chassis systems are the heart of our in-house automation designs - providing us with a cost-efficient solution to achieve our unique small plastic part production goals," said LSP's Henningsen. "Additionally, their quality-controlled design is readily adaptable to utilizing pick-and-place units for fully-automated assembly."
"WEISS TC Series rotary tables offer robust design with smooth, jerk- and impact-free motion and long service life," said the spokesperson.
For more information contact:
Weiss North America, Inc.
3860 Ben Hur Avenue, Suite 3
Willoughby, OH 44094
888-934-7762
info@weissna.com
www.weissna.com
LSP Products Group, Inc.
3689 Arrowhead Dr
Carson City, NV 89706
800-243-3215
customerservice@lspproducts.com
www.lspproducts.com