How to make a PET Bottle Blow Molding Machine?
So Basically PET Bottle Blowing Machine comes in 2 Variants - Semi-Automatic (Which requires manual loading of Plastic Preforms) & Automatic (Which has a hopper loader attached to it in order to load the preforms, which usually has a higher production capacity as compared to Semi-Automatic Machine).
Also there is an option which can be given in semi-automatic machine to speed up the post production process a bit, wherein the bottle can be made to drop automatically, post blowing directly in some form of container — this is usually done by auto-opening feature of the mold post blowing, so even this saves time of removing the bottle from the mold post blowing completes, as the bottle drops automatically and saves the time and efforts of the operator.
Things that are needed to actually make the PET Blowing Machine:
The process can be actually carried out in a very simple manner, by outsourcing 60–70% of the work from outside and then what just remains is the assembling part of your machine which can be done in your factory. The main components involved in creation of PET Bottle Blowing Machines are —
a) The Fabricated Parts such as the complete raw body of the machine (which primarily includes the PipeFrame, The machine Oven, The stretch Rod, which stretches and elongates the preform to take the inner height of the mold, which gives the PET Bottle the actual height, The Distributor, which is the heart of the machine, it is on the distributor that all the valves of the machine are fitted and air flow is routed for all the valves from here). The creation of the Fabricated Parts can be outsourced to be made by any fabricator, thus saving your time and efforts.
b) The Actuators (Valves, Cylinders, Sensors, FRL, Regulators) there may be various suppliers of pneumatic valves, Cylinders and Sensors, which mainly work as the actuators for each and every function in the machine and perform the primary task to regulate a proper air flow in the machine.
—Valves
There are separate valves for each and every function to be carried out in the machine. For Eg.: For Blowing function there is a High Pressure, Low Pressure, and an Exhaust Valve. This also can be replaced by the new technology of Dual - Valve, which performs all the three functions. There is a stretching valve, which carries out the preform stretching function, Mould Close/Open Valve, which perform the function of closing and opening of the valve.
—Cylinders
The Cylinders come in 2 Variants — the hydropneumatic and pneumatic cylinders. The HydroPneumatic Cylinders are mainly used for Mould open and closing function for the proper movement of parts within the machine. While Choosing a Cylinder 2 things must be kept in mind — The Bore and Stroke of the Cylinder, where the Bore is where the piston and seal of the cylinder move. Stroke is the limit upto which the movement of the respective part takes place.
—FRL (Filter, Regulation, and Lubricant)
It’s basically a device located at the starting point of the machine, from where the Air Flow Supply is started, which is a multi-function device used in order to filter the air from dust particles and circulate in the entire machine.
—Regulators
In order to control the amount of air supply, we need a regulator, so that an optimum amount of air is supplied to each valve, for their respective functions. There is analog gauge attached to it which allows us to see what amount of air is being supplied
c) Setting Up the Oven
The Oven of the PET Blowing Machine is the most crucial part of the machine making process. It mainly needs the setup of IR heaters, preform holders, PLC, and Push Buttons for the machine to operate.
—Heaters
The function of the heaters or Short-wave IR (Infra Red) Heaters is to heat up the oven which are being placed on preform holders, which take a circular movement around the heaters, and the preforms also rotates around it’s own axis, so that the preforms are heated properly to soften the preforms, in order to easily blow the preforms and produce the PET Bottle.
—PLC (Programmable Logic Control)
The PLC is where the complete control of your PET Bottle Blowing Machine lies. You can control the amount of heating supplied by the heaters to the preforms, the speed of the preform rotation and revolution around the heaters (usually called as the cycle time) etc.
—Push Button
The Push Button are 2 Control Buttons which enable the machine mold to close when the preform is being placed in the mold for blowing purpose.
—Preform Holders
These are containers to hold the preform and their movement is controlled by a chain (usually measure in links. For Eg.: 64 Link Chain is needed in a machine)
—Gear Box & Motor
The Gear Box and DC Motor OR PMDC Motor is needed in order to make the circular movement of the chain which holds the preforms.
d) The Wiring and Piping Within the Machine:
—Wiring
There is Panel whose fabrication work can be outsourced from any company involved in doing fabrication work, and after the panel is ready, your main job begins—The Wiring: You need to do complete wiring of the machine to the PLC, heater track (or SSR) in order to control the number of heating zones in the machine, and also from the valves in the machine to the PLC. It’s always a good practice to do the work of wiring in a clean and tidy manner, by proper numbering of each and every wire, pertaining to each and every function of the machine whose electrical supply is controlled by it. Wiring is a simple task, once brought in practice, what you just need to do be careful is that after wiring, please check that the machine is getting a proper Neutral and Phase, by using a tester.
—Piping
PU Pipes are being used in order to do the piping within the machine for proper air flow within the machine. Basically Pipes are a medium for the air to flow and travel within the machine. The Piping work is done within the machine from Valves to Cylinders, and then to the Distributor.
Just Remember one thing…In order to make this machine make sure that 60–70% of your work is outsourced, mainly the fabrication work, and as far as the other parts, actuator goes, and other components of the oven goes; there are many suppliers for them in the market. What you just need to do in Your Factory, is to do the Wiring, Piping Work, and Basic Assembly OR Welding works (If required).
Thanks.