Advantages of Forward Technology Infrared Tooling:
- Over 95% of all tooling is designed and manufactured for your application by our in-house Tooling Design and Fabrication department in Cokato, MN.
- This in-house capability insures optimal quality and scheduling control as well as reducing time requirements in the event of product design changes.
- No charge/obligation complete application review and joint design assistance.
- Full prototyping capability.
- All tools are designed for ease of maintenance, adjustment, and maximum life.
- Tools provide support and location of joint area as well as accurate alignment throughout the welding process.
- Virtually every tool is thoroughly tested and debugged at our facility on equipment in our laboratory.
- Full start-up service/support at your facility is available.
Standard Infrared Tooling
- Precision CNC cut holding fixtures supports joint area of each part half.
- Holding fixtures can be split if necessary to accommodate part-to-part variations or for welding warm/hot parts.
- Hardened steel fixture top plates (metalized by black oxide, chrome plating or anodizing)
- Steel, aluminum, urethane, or acetal tooling components.
- Lightweight aluminum backing plates
- Heavy-duty slides used for support & part retention in areas where clearance is needed for loading & unloading on lower tooling.
- Custom grippers and vacuum cups used to secure parts in holding fixtures.
- Mechanical positive hard-stops on each fixture and infrared platen.
- Control depth of melt and weld/seal dimensions.
- Provide assembled product consistency
- Eliminate risk of cold joint (all molten material being extruded from joint by excess travel)
- Adjustable for part to part variance
- Precision glass encased emitters contained with platen assembly designed for uniform intensity across all joint surfaces.
- Constant air cooling of all emitter envelopes to insure long life.
Infrared Tooling Options
- Part presence sensors verify part presence/position prior to allowing machine to cycle.
- Part eject eases removal of welded parts from tooling.
- Quick change system for customers using multiple tools in one machine.
- Tool coding utilizes RF Tagging to automatically identify the application and select the correct program/setup.
- Infrared platen & tooling fixture cart with casters for storage and easy relocation of infrared assemblies and tooling.
Advantages of Glass Encased Emitters vs. Ribbon Style Emitters
- Improved safety, no exposed live conductors.
- Air currents can create SIGNIFICANT changes in temperature and wattage when conductor is exposed to air currents.
- As encased conductors are held under tension, they offer much better resistance to sagging as found in ribbons style emitters.
- Conductor is isolated from product – no contact is possible, minimizing risk of damage to the conductor.
