Avient of Avon lake, Ohio, recently partnered with Bettcher industries, a food processing equipment manufacturer in Birmingham, Ohio, as a result of which Bettcher converted its quantum motor support yoke from metal to long glass fiber thermoplastic (LFT).
Aiming to replace cast aluminum, avient and Bettcher’s team redesigned the support yoke, which can support motors weighing up to 25 pounds and power various meat cutting tools. The challenge they face is to provide a lighter polymer substitute, which can not only reduce the overall finished product cost, but also maintain reliable performance in a strict service environment. Specifically, the material needs to handle constant weight load and high vibration, and can withstand corrosive chemicals.
Avient believes that its complet long glass fiber reinforced nylon composite is the right material to achieve the required strength and reinforcement properties. Long fiber thermoplastic (LFT) is nearly 40% lighter than the cast aluminum material it will replace. It also increases the advantages of injection molding and can realize faster single-step production, so as to reduce the cost.
Eric wollan, general manager of plastic comp of avient company, pointed out: “the opportunity of metal substitution is around us. This project is a good example of the strength and toughness of complet long fiber composites, which can provide lightweight solutions and special alternatives to metals for many industries. With our expertise in material science and design, we help our customers complete the journey of material change so that they can achieve higher efficiency and performance“
Avient conducted virtual prototyping of the redesigned support yoke, such as die filling and finite element analysis (FEA), while Bettcher tested the physical prototype to simulate 500000 service cycles. Supported by these results, avient formulated a pre colored long glass fiber thermoplastic (LFT) to match Bettcher’s existing product palette. In this way, the secondary coating and finishing are omitted, and the cost is further saved.
Joel hall, saisd Bettcher senior engineering manager, said, “we are very grateful to avient for its initiative. Due to the cooperative project with avient, we can confidently transition to long fiber technology and finally provide customers with high-end and innovative products“
Post time: Aug-03-2021