Determining life span through the mould testing machine
Recently, Hans Brunner GmbH has had a mould testing machine at its
disposal, which simulates the changing mechanical load in the way they
occur in chocolate manufacturing companies. The simulations consist of
pounding with hammers, distorting the mould (twisting) and vibrations
(shaking). In this way, it is possible to find out how the moulds react
without having to subject them to destruction tests. The testing machine
is equipped with sensors and the measuring value can be evaluated.
Chocolate moulds that are made of plastic must be able to withstand some
loads in order to produce an optimal chocolate product. These loads
include:
- vibrations in order to spread the chocolate evenly in its mould
- the removal of chocolate articles from their moulds by
- twisting and knocking
- cleaning
Therefore, we simulate these loads in a testing machine in order to
determine which loads are the most damaging for the plastic moulds, and
how long the moulds can withstand these strains. The mechanical loads
are simulated by the pounding of hammers, distorting the mould
(twisting), and by the introduction of vibrations (shaking). The
different mechanical loads of the moulds can be flexibly adjusted
according to the demand. The restoring forces of the chocolate moulds
under pressure are picked up by built-in sensors and recorded in
analysable data presentation. Additionally, not only do we closely
examine the mechanical loads of the moulds, but we also include the
chemical load (cleaning of the moulds) in our tests. By doing this, we
aim to understand the effects of the accumulated loads. With this
comprehensive approach towards understanding all the loads, we hope to
further improve the durability of our moulds. From these findings, we
would like to develop yet an additional service for you, our customers.
With the help of the mould testing machine, the degree of ageing of the
plastic moulds can be determined. In other words, it will be possible to
assess the remaining life span of the mould that you are using. This
would provide you with information as to how much longer a chocolate
mould can withstand the loads of the chocolate production processes. Through this, we would be able to hinder any costly and time-consuming
losses of the plastic moulds during production. We continue to inform
you about any further developments in the upcoming newsletter.
