Acrolab’s ISOPLATENS® deliver high levels of thermal stability to many kinds of applications that involve heated or cooled plates. ISOPLATENS® can be designed for electric, oil, water, or steam heating/cooling. These technologically advanced plates utilize an engineered bi-level array of ISOBAR® heat pipe super-thermal conductors to redistribute, and uniformly apply heating/cooling energy provided to the platen. In some cases temperature uniformity can reach up to +/-1°F.
We Offer Two Technology Options; Isoplaten & Basic Platen
Acrolab Isoplatens®
Acrolab ISOPLATENS® have all the components of a basic platen design but are engineered for optimal thermal uniformity. Acrolab utilizes exclusive technologies to achieve uniformity up to +/-1°F across 90-95% of the working surface. Below are standard components utilized in ISOPLATEN® design.
Isobar® Heat Pipes
Isobars are utilized in a matrix pattern which gives the client the ability to achieve ultimate temperature uniformity.
Advantages;
- Excellent thermal uniformity on the ISOPLATEN® surface
- Less scrap parts and more heating/cooling control
- A more responsive platen
- Quicker heat up times
- Rapid thermal recovery for quick cycle applications
Heating & Cooling Source Types
Depending on the heating & cooling source, Acrolab engineers utilize the best design possible for your application. Some standard types are steam,oil,water, and electric.
EXAMPLE: When using electric cartridge heaters Acrolab will engineer a distributed wattage that is designed specifically for your application.
Advantages:
- Heat signature uniformity from the heater surface.
- Isoplatens utilize thermal energy more efficiently, this results in a faster heat up or cool down time.
- Insulation is typically utilized on both perimeter and bottom to improve heating & cooling.
- Acrolab engineers can calculate pressure drop and thermal loss in cooling & heating fluids.
CONTROL
Acrolab ISOPLATENS® typically only need 1 zone of control (Thermocouple or RTD). Multiple zones can be engineered if the application requires multiple heating or cooling areas. Due to the efficiency of heating controls, Isoplatens generally require less power to operate.
Advantages:
- Fewer control systems required while achieving optimal thermal performance
- Typically less energy consumption for heating applications
- The simplicity of the heating system results in less chance of component failures
- An overheat protection thermoswitch is typically integrated to protect against overheating
Basic Platen Design Types
Material Types: A36, 4140 Steel are typical along with 6061 type Aluminum. Other steel and material types can be utilized depending upon application requirements.
Heat Source Types
ELECTRIC USING: Cartridge Heaters, Strip Heaters, or Split Heaters.
FLUID: Oil, Steam, & Water.
Cooling Source Types
FLUID: Oil, Steam, & Cryogenic.
Sensor Types
- Typically type J or K Thermocouples or RTD’s.
- Integrated safety thermal cut off.
Control
Can be designed with multiple heating and/or cooling zones, as required.
Isoplatens® Substantially Improve Cycle Times, Thermal Recovery Rates & Part Quality
ISOBAR® Heat Pipes in the lower level of an Isoplaten linearize the typical non-linear output of electrical heaters. The upper section of an Isoplaten provides further uniform distribution of the energy residing in the platen. The combination of the two levels of the ISOBAR® Heat Pipe array ensures that the random point-to-point temperature of the ISOPLATEN® is ±1°C (typical) over 90 percent of the platen surface.
Isoplaten® Technology – Faster Cycle Times & Less Scrap
Acrolab’s ISOBAR® and ISOPLATEN® technology presents the client with revolutionary advances in processing high-quality parts at a much more affordable cost. This is achieved through;
- faster cycle times
- applying more uniform cure rates at optimum processing temperatures
- reducing maintenance
- lowering energy requirements.
The Simple Advantage
ISOPLATEN’S® unique characteristics and proven capacity to deliver thermal uniformity permit the use of one single-zone temperature control for the entire platen – no special multi-zone controls or multiple thermocouples required. Integral water cooling lines for fast process temperature changes are available on all models. The standard ISOPLATEN® has an operating range of -60°C to 250°C.
Isoplatens® Offer Gains Over Traditional Platens
ISOBAR® Heat Pipes accept energy inputs from any location along their length and redistribute them uniformly at high speed – ISOPLATENS® provide a unique advantage over traditional press platens!
Isoplatens have a unique characteristic over standard platens called footprint heating. When a thermal load is placed on a standard platen, after many cycles, it is noticed that the footprint of the thermal load is reduced in temperature but the surfaces outside the foot print accumulate in temperatures thereby forming hot spot areas. The ISOPLATEN®, due to its super thermal conductive properties, is able to effectively transport the heat from hotter areas and the heat source towards the colder areas in higher demand at very high speeds.
Superior Electric Heating
If a heating element, in a traditional electric platen fails, a cold area immediately becomes apparent on the platen surface adjacent to the heater.
When a heater fails in an ISOPLATEN®, the distributive properties of the ISOBAR® Heat Pipe array super-conduct energy to the cold region caused by the failed heater, quickly compensating for any loss of energy in that region.
The result is a slight reduction in the amount of heat being generated in the Isoplaten®; however, there is no significant change in the thermal uniformity of the ISOPLATEN® working surface.