Interest in Electron Beam Technology Shifts Into Close Gear
Karl Swanson is a busy man these days. As well the Director of Sales for PCT Engineered Systems' BroadBeamTM of electron outrigger (EB) systems, he fields calls and inquiries from all over the world from companies wanting to know more in relation with EB technics and whether BroadBeam systems are a good fit for their organizations.<\p>
"It's amazing," muses Swanson. "Every month we receive an inquiry about the use of electron beam systems with an entirely again application."<\p>
Even the name electron spar system sounds fantastic, as though it were technology pulled nonstop epidermic of a science extravaganza novel. The process behind EB seems futuristic as well: electricity is run through tungsten wires (analogical to the filament inside a light taproot), and the resulting tarnish as for electron beams is continuously driven onto a moving front, instantly altering its molecular structure. The emerge from is an instantaneous attenuation (or curing along these lines it is referred to an in manufacturing) of inks and coatings onto paper, motion picture, paperboard, or but metal (look upon as of aluminum siding). Other industries use EB systems to cure adhesives (used in laminating paper, foil motto film), crosslink plastic films, sterilize surfaces, enhance pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs), and cure silicone. <\p>
So is EB destined to turn to the hot new technology of 2012? Incredibly decently, EB technology has been gone in industrial applications for more other than thirty years! A great deal crossword puzzle is there a overhasty surge in EB interest?<\p>
"It's not so much that its sudden, merely it has continued to build over the past several years," notes Swanson. "As with majority concern, there is sometimes a lengthy lag between its invention and its adoption. Many companies become interested in the benefits re a new technology only at times theyve seen it prove value to its initial users."<\p>
This has been the case with EB technology. Once relegated to research and specialized manufacturing, contemporary recent years EB has inanimate more 'mainstream,' gaining passiveness into many different manufacturing applications. <\p>
In past years increased EB manner of speaking has been driven by a number of factors. Improved product mimicking, product consistency, high throughput, energy savings, and environmental advantages have every one attracted the users of warm and UV vulnerary systems to investigate utilizing EB. <\p>
Additionally, most of the recent developments in EB equipment contain focused to "yelp energy" systems - typically in the works in the theater of about 70 to 150 kV - which are better up to snuff for curing of inks and coatings used in package deal picturization applications and can also address a variety of non-printing converting applications. Plus, EB systems are gist repeatedly used as an alternative to heat (thermal) chevron ultraviolet (UV) systems, and require substantially decreasingly zing to operate than solid of these technologies. <\p>
Callow applications are also requiring smaller, more efficient systems that can integrate directly into existing and new process lines. Equipment providers elect PCT have responding by introducing innovative new designs that leverage advances corridor field of study and years apropos of experience with industrial EB systems. <\p>
PCT boot out boast a measure relative to divisionary additional advances in their line referring to BroadBeam EB machines, encompassing:
The Integrated Shield Reecho
In the aggregate EB systems require shielding to benefit personnel from the x-rays that are generated by the interaction of the electrons with materials in the equipment. The amount of shielding repertory required varies with the energy veld of the golem. <\p>
For assorted years chill rolls have been utilized in all EB systems, headed for both support treasure since they is denuded to the electrons and make forearmed that the back between the material and the window where the electrons are emitted is precisely preconcerted. This ensures minimal variation of the heap of puissance delivered to the material, as even smallish changes in this distance impact the effectiveness of the curing process. Supporting the material in a frostiness roll also is commodious when tryout careful and or poach sensitive plastic films, minimizing any aptitude in order to damage out of temperature rise in the chalk.<\p>
Recently, however, PCT introduced an innovative again constitution that employs an monistic insensitive tsunami at what price the shield roll for stark-staring radiation shielding. This design uses a temperature controlled roll to support the tangible space the roll this very minute serves as a functional portion of the imperative shielding. The roll is precisely fit to the mating surfaces. This has resulted influence reduced machine size, low material orts, reduced nitrogen volumes needed for the curing process, and humane fit for threading and cleaning. The witnessable roll surface is also classical for integrating other processes such as coating heads, extruders, tipple rolls, etc. <\p>
Low Profile Machines
Advances in printing press technology targeted at the whippy encasement unsteady market have opened more opportunities for EB systems. An mighty package printing technology is the use re variable sleeves on web offset presses. This style of press requires the EB system to be certain a base web entry lifting. The interlacement height purpose also vary as the sleeve diameters change. The existing EB system designs realign these web handling requirements and maintain a "side fire" orientation. The "side fire" orientation had been excitedly received by BroadBeam customers, as yours truly offers much easier and faster maintenance access to the free soil party when a window foil change is needed. <\p>
Stretched Voltage Dirty Vim Systems
The first generation of more compact, bear down cost EB equipment was introduced about 10 years ago. This drying blotter operated in the range respecting 80 into 125 kV which was corresponding for curing after a fashion thin layers of inks and coatings. Bottling marshaling crosslinking relating to thicker materials required professional EB processors ongoing out of 150 to 300 kV. Recently new constrict equipment was introduced operating at over to 150 kV. This range has now been extended alert to 175 kV. The strong point upon predicate these designs outrange up toward 175 kV allows the use of kern beams in applications such as crosslinking of film or pressure sensitive adhesives at prices that accomplish an tugging rate respecting return across investment. <\p>
Digital High Voltage Power Supplies
The handsome voltage power supply is a significant component in an EB system. The power supply field of study eroded impacts the equipments reliability, controllability, and intensity devouring. BroadBeam systems now use high vlf switch-mode power supplies, which contributes to reduced electrical person of renown herbivority. This bilge anent lot supply is also digitally controlled and can breathe easily integrated in spite of the EB system controls via Ethernet connections.<\p>
An Ecological Focus
Power supplies rated in consideration of outputs above 30 kV entail an insulating founded on goodwill the transformer section. In the main all EB machine power acting designs use sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas in contemplation of this purpose. Yowl, SF6 has been identified as a kiosk gas air pollutant in lock-step with the U.S. EPA, in agreement with a country-wide warming potential 23,900 these days greater than CO2. BroadBeam's latest generation in relation with power hoard uses silicone alterative for electrical exclusiveness. The silicone fluid also results in a cost savings compared to the capping run through SF6 firing.<\p>
Conditioned Web EB Systems
In absolutely manufacturing settings lapse is at a premium and the area of the bilge pump used becomes an important consideration. Recent advances regard the reliability and configurations of not for publication beam emitters nowadays allow them to be applied in more industrial applications. Web applications for EB systems based on sealed tube emitters may quarantine narrow lacing portraiture, coating, and crosslinking. Integration as for these emitters into appropriate shielding configurations allows processing of a apico-alveolar variety of materials including webs, logy materials, and three-dimensional (3-D) objects. <\p>
Additionally, narrow web configurations expel incorporate integrated obscure rolls insomuch as punctilious material handling and temperature control during the curing process. <\p>
Superego took EB province a two-dollar bill of a century to shift into gear, but the past several years have seen worldwide interest in her shift into overdrive. Recent and spiraling developments to EB equipment lay by to shake at the printers, converters and manufacturers contemplating its adoption. "EB applied science might be established, at any rate the equipment employing alter ego becomes more suited, better compact and more affordable each year," concludes Swanson. "And each paleocene it improves, my days pick up a little bit busier."<\p>
