Instrumentation in Plastics Processing Control.

Some suggestions are made as to new approaches in the instrumentation sector, and a general idea is given of the problems presented by a fully automatic process control system. A description is given of the process of data detection performed, and the measuring equipment used, on injection molding machines and extrusion lines, as requirements for automating the production process. In addition, possibilities of monitoring the process during operation are shown that permit continuous detection of the parameters describing the quality of the product without interruption of the production process. To ensure moldings of consistent quality, use is made of instrumentation equipment that keeps the relevant process parameters having been determined as optimal at a constant level. Using injection molding and extrusion blow molding as examples, several characteristic control concepts are introduced. Advantages of automatic process control in plastics plants are summarized.