Document Type

Restricted Campus Only

Publication Date

4-2004

Abstract

A hot embosser utilizes a compressive force and heat to imprint a pattern onto a polymer. This report presents the design of a hot embosser and its prototype modeling and testing. Temperature and force modeling was performed in Microsoft Excel and Pro MECHANICA, respectively. The outcome of these analyses was used to make final decisions regarding component selection. An H­frame constructed from inexpensive steel serves as the major structural component of the design. Attached to this frame is a single-acting hydraulic cylinder coupled with a hand pump. A pressure gage and a pressure transducer provide real time measurements of the pressure inside the hydraulic cylinder. An S-beam load cell, placed between the platens, was used to generate a calibration curve to mathematically describe the relationship between the pressure in the cylinder and the resulting force applied between the platens. Since the load cell is removed during operation, the tJ.·ansducer produces a voltage feedback to Lab VIEW in order to determine the relationship between the real time compressive force between the platens and the hydraulic pressure through a calibration curve. Cartridge heaters and thermocouples were embedded into aluminum platens to provide the heat source and temperature measurements for the hot embosser. Lab VIEW is used to control the heat input by the cartridge heaters based on the temperature feedback provided by the thermocouples. Safety, robustness, manufacturability, and cost were all considered in the prototype hot embosser design.

Comments

Project Advisor: Dr. Diana Glawe

Industry Advisor: Air Force Research Laboratory (Dayton, Ohio)

Download

Share

COinS