Originally Published EMDM January/February 2002
ASSEMBLY EQUIPMENT
Ultrasonic welding system features new user interface
Designed for ultrasonic assembly applications that require power and amplitude but that are too delicate for 20-kHz systems, a 30-kHz welder provides up to 1500 W of ultrasonic power and is available in probe and press-and-thrust configurations. Equipped with a graphical user interface that facilitates tooling manipulation, the system was introduced to European industry at K 2001 by Dukane Corp. (St. Charles, IL, USA).
Dukane exhibited the welder with a Level IV Dynamic Process Controller (DPC); the DPC is available in four levels, from a compact, adaptable design to an advanced 32-bit RISC microprocessor-based format. Features of the Level IV DPC include digital amplitude control in 1% increments, real-time multitasking capability for simultaneous control of process parameters, and primary and secondary control functions to reduce rejects and increase part consistency.
The welder was connected to the company's new Intelligent Process Control (IPC) user interface. IPC runs on a PC and uses Internet Explorer–style graphics and functions. The keyboard and mouse of a Windows-compatible computer is used to manipulate graphical tools to set parameters and evaluate part data.
Norbert Sparrow
Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer
