Carver Laboratory Presses  

Wabash,  IN 
United States
http://www.carverpress.com

For more than 100 years Carver hydraulic presses have been the standard for laboratories around the world. Carver Model C presses alone are in use in more laboratories than any other press. The current Carver line has been expanded and improved with more sizes, options, features, and quality performance than any other line presses. Standard choices now include two-column and four-column, bench top and floor standing, and manual and automatic presses with clamping capacities from 12 to 100 tons. Automatic "Auto Series" presses include user-friendly control system and integral safety enclosures. Accessories include new self-contained, electrically operated AutoPak hydraulic power unit for retrofit to existing manual Carver presses. Special presses dedicated to specific applications include ASTM test plaque or bar molding, pellet making (KBr specimens for infrared an x-ray spectroscopy), laminating and rubber stamp molding. Carver designs and manufactures a wide variety of custom made presses and accessories to suit your specific application. We also do lab testing for ASTM test plaque or bar molds for polyethylene and polypropylene.

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• Using Presses for Pelletizing and other Laboratory Applications (Jan 29, 2021)

  Ceramic powder can be heated and processed into a large variety of forms, but for the standard shape for testing of these materials is the disc or pellet. This shape is preferred for a number of reasons, the principle one being that by making it cylindrical there are only two edges to act as stress concentrators1. This is important, as if there is no binder present in the initial powder the resulting green compact can be incredibly fragile and may break before further processing. This is true also of the heat processed form, where an increased number of edges can increase the risk of fracture during densification2.

  The other reason for choosing the pellet as the shape to test these materials is that it can be cut to suit the majority of the tests that will be performed upon it. Some typical tests that are performed on engineering ceramics include infrared (IR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy3. These tests typically use a flat cylindrical sample, and the ability to test the pellets without further cutting or grinding is a huge help. Additional processing can introduce problems in the form of inconsistencies in the dimensions of the final sample which may then cause errors in the measurement.

  With the reasoning behind the shape explained, there are then some important features of the pellets themselves. A pressed disc should fulfil the following quality criteria: homogeneity across the composition, solidity to avoid loose particles, stability, and finally storability4. In the case of spectroscopy, it is the content of the pellet that is being investigated and it should be made sure that any binder does not interact with the main powder. It is much preferred to have a pellet that has been produced without the aid of a binder.

  There are other tests that benefit from a flat pellet. X-ray diffraction is better with a solid pellet as the concentration of the elements over a certain area is higher in density than that of a loose powder. This causes a greater amount of counts for the sample testing time. In addition, a smooth surface is preferable to a rough one from an optical point of view, with any contrasts much easier to view under optical microscopy.

  The equipment used to press pellets for investigation must therefore be engineered with precision in order to produce pellets that conform to the aforementioned criteria. Carver Inc. has been designing and producing laboratory standard presses for over 100 years and is proud to offer a complete range of products to suit all manner of testing5.

  Every researcher wants to ensure that their pellets are produced in a consistent and uniform manner, but not all research environments can accommodate the exact same press. This is why Carver Inc. provides a variety of presses that are suited for research or industry, whether it’s for the production of single pellets one at a time, or a large run of the same powder.

  For labs where space may be limited, a bench top press should be considered. Although smaller in foot print, they offer the same high quality and customization options as other, larger presses. Carver’s benchtop press range has both hand operated and automatic models, with a number of optional features for greater specificity of task.

  On the manual side the standard model is available in 12, 25 and 30 ton capacities, and can be used for tasks such as pelletizing, destructive testing, fluid extraction, pressure forming, to name a few. For producing pellets, especially useful in the case of IR or XRF spectroscopy, Carver offers a set of dies in 12, 13, 25, 31 and 40 mm sample sizes. For heat related processing like molding and laminating, models with temperature controlled heated platens are also available.

  Some testing requires a large number of similarly shaped samples. This can be tiring and time consuming when done by hand, so automation can be a better option. Carver also offers a solution in this case, with both the standard Auto Series Plus and AutoPellet automatic laboratory presses. These examples will sit comfortably on a lab benchtop, although scaled up versions can be found too.

  The Auto Series Plus General Purpose Presses feature a large 7” color touch screen for operator input. If it is a large number of pellets that needs to be produced then the AutoPellet is the superior option. Similar to the manual model it can be outfitted with dies 6, 12, 13, 25, 31 and 40mm, and comes in both 25 & 40 ton varieties, with an electrically powered hydraulic system driving the 5" diameter platen. In order to maintain precise alignment the slab side construction is exceptionally rigid, with provision for a vacuum line connection to the pellet die. The AutoPellet presses have a programmable control system with 10 recipe storage capacity and programmable decompression rates. This can control the platen temperature, as well as auto-tuning, ramp heating capability, and output of force and temperature in real-time. The system can also store up to 250 recipes, and be augmented with options such as a seven day timer for auto platen heat-up and remote access to data through Wi-Fi. There are a number of Auto Series Plus press models available with clamping force of 15 to 48 tons platen sizes of 6" x 6" to 19” x 19”.

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  References and Further Reading: 1. Barsoum, M. . Fundamentals of Ceramics. (2002) 2. Johnson, D. L. Fundamentals of the Sintering of Ceramics. Mater Sci Res 11, 137–149 (1978) 3. Dent, G. Preparation of Samples for IR Spectroscopy as KBr Disk. Available at: http://www.irdg.org/the-infrared-and-raman-discussion-group/ijvs/ijvs-volume-1edition-1/dent/  4. Eads, A. & Miller, G. Pressing Ceramic Sample Discs. 34–35 (2019) 5. Carver Inc. Products. Available at: https://www.carverpress.com/products 

• Using Presses in Manufacturing and the Laboratory (Jan 29, 2021)

  Presses are found everywhere in both laboratory and manufacturing environments. They are utilized in various processes, such as transfer molding, vacuum press, and compression molding applications. This article describes the range of applications of presses in manufacturing and research, and looks at some of the various industries in which they are employed.

  Frequently known as just ‘presses’, machine presses are commonly found in essentially all sectors within manufacturing.

  The methods involved with presses are almost as varied as their applications, but they all share one common factor: presses enable components to be manufactured using the application of pressure.

  Presses can be employed to form a limitless number of materials, mainly plastics and rubber – in processes such as laminating, molding, extrusion, and over-molding.

  Due to their exceptional versatility as a manufacturing tool, presses are capable of high-throughput production of a great number and range of popular items, for example, test plaques, molded cable ends, pc boards, aerospace parts, and oil seals.

  Along with creating these finished products in just one process, presses are frequently utilized to execute important steps in multi-stage manufacturing processes, for example, coil encapsulation.

  As well as being a true workhorse of industry and manufacturing, tailored precision hydraulic and pneumatic presses are commonly used in the laboratory.

  As an example, presses with sub-micron accuracy are required in the production of the lead frames to mount microchips.

  Heated presses have been employed to create advanced aerospace components from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics.1

  Presses have even been applied to tissue engineering, where they have offered a successful way of making cellular scaffolds on which to develop tissues for transplantation.2

  Presses are normally categorized into floor standing or benchtop devices, which can be produced to a varied range of specifications of precision and force.

  A tailored press solution able to apply incredibly high forces or movement in highly precise increments is required in most demanding use cases, even though standard presses adapt to the majority of manufacturing applications.

  Three of the most popular kinds of processes carried out by presses will now be evaluated, including compression molding, transfer molding, and vacuum press applications.

  Compression Molding

  One of the primary molding methods is compression molding. This is the term to describe the process where a bulk material is placed in a mold cavity and is compressed to fill the mold in a press.

  According to the material, the workpiece can be heated during pressing, utilizing heated platens or can be preheated before pressing.

  Many benefits are offered by compression molding. It is one of the most affordable molding processes to perform and can be employed to produce fairly complex and relatively large components.

  Compression molding can be utilized to mold metals, fiberglass, and plastics, and is frequently used to create components that are flat or slightly curved.

  Transfer Molding

  Transfer molding, also called ‘compression transfer molding’, is a method where the material is forced into a mold using the pressure applied by a press.

  Higher dimensional tolerances are produced by the forcing of bulk material into the mold but need higher pressures than what is found in compression molding.3

  The standards needed for the material to flow into the mold means that transfer molding is normally utilized for the manufacture of components, from resins to produce thermoset products.

  Transfer molding is flexible enough for applications in electronics, aerospace, construction and sports equipment manufacturing.4

  Vacuum Press Applications

  Any machine press where the workpiece is kept in an evacuated environment at the time of pressing is called a vacuum press.

  More efficient production, reduced waste material, and higher quality results are a result of performing pressing in a vacuum.

  The use of a vacuum can eliminate trapped air and heated gases from the situation, which decreases the kind of defects that can happen with transfer molding or compression.

  Vacuum presses are normally used for manufacturing products where a high degree of precision is needed for this reason.

  Hydraulic and Pneumatic Presses for Manufacturing and Laboratory Work

  Wabash MPI is a manufacturer and global distributor of standard and tailored pneumatic and hydraulic presses for the energy, automotive, medical, aerospace industries, along with many others.

  Wabash MPI offers a complete range of presses to adapt to any application in manufacturing, such as presses for transfer molding, vacuum press, and transfer molding applications.

  Various accessories can optimize the capabilities of their presses, such as heated or large platens and vacuum shrouds. Wabash MPI also offers various field services such as the start-up of new equipment, calibration of equipment, and preventative maintenance.

  Their sister company Carver offers precision hydraulic and pneumatic presses intended for the laboratory.

  Creating presses for more than 100 years, its range of floor-standing and benchtop presses are engineered with precision at the forefront. Carver is also a world-leader in the production and design of custom presses and accessories to meet the needs of the most challenging applications.

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  References and Further Reading: 1. Wulfsberg, J. et al. Combination of carbon fiber sheet moulding compound and prepreg compression molding in aerospace industry. in Procedia Engineering 81, 1601–1607 (Elsevier Ltd, 2014). 2. Hou, Q., Grijpma, D. W. & Feijen, J. Porous polymeric structures for tissue engineering prepared by a coagulation, compression molding and salt leaching technique. Biomaterials 24, 1937–1947 (2003). 3. Ornaghi, H. L., Bolner, A. S., Fiorio, R., Zattera, A. J. & Amico, S. C. Mechanical and dynamic mechanical analysis of hybrid composites molded by resin transfer molding. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 118, 887–896 (2010). 4. Resin Transfer Molding - K. Potter - Google Books. Available here. (Accessed: 1st November 2019)

• New PNP Series Pneumatic Presses from Wabash/Carver (Jan 29, 2021)

  Wabash MPI and Carver, Inc. have announced a new line of pneumatic presses for a wide variety of applications. The PNP Series. Standard models in .5-, 2- and 5-ton capacities and feature table-top, four-post construction. Maximum operating temperature is 500F.

  Other standard features include low-friction seals and bearings, infinite-life framework, interchangeable cylinders along with 90 PSIG design pressure and five-micron particulate air filters. Optional features range from CE and cleanroom designs to platen cooling, heat tubes, 800F operation among others. These presses excel in many applications including composites molding, laminating, rubber molding, plastics testing, fluid/resin extraction, destructive testing, bonding, cell disruption, and sample preparation.

  Carver, Inc. also offers two-column and four-column benchtop, manual and automatic hydraulic laboratory presses. Sister-company Wabash MPI offers standard and custom hydraulic presses for production and laboratory environments.

• Pressing Ceramic Sample Discs (Jan 29, 2021)
  Ceramic Industry Article by Andy Eads, Marketing Development Manager; Donovan Sparks, Regional Sales Manager; and Gary Miller, Senior Project Engineer, Carver, Inc.

  Sample discs of ceramic materials can be used for X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, infrared spectroscopy and optical emissions spectroscopy. 

  Ceramic sample preparation is a technique that involves the formation of a solid pellet of material for analysis through methods that require flat, round sample known as sample discs. The sample discs are either produced by fusion of the sample with salt or through pressing in a press and die. Molds control the size of the sample discs...

  Click here to read the rest of the story as published online by Ceramic Industry or click here to view the article in pdf format.

• Wabash MPI/Carver Recieves IMA Hall of Fame Award (Jan 29, 2021)

  The Indiana Manufacturers Association (IMA) held its 2018 Indiana Manufacturers Hall of Fame Luncheon on October 24, 2018, at the Biltwell Event Center in Indianapolis. The goal of the Indiana Manufacturers Hall of Fame is to celebrate and recognize the positive achievements made by Indiana manufacturing companies, and to honor their contributions to furthering manufacturing in Indiana.

  The companies that are inducted have made outstanding contributions to the development of a healthy, dynamic environment in Indiana, and to the State’s overall economic well-being. Wabash MPI/Carver is honored this year to be a recipient and has been a member of the IMA since 1952.

  Beth Gillespie, General Manager of Wabash MPI/Carver, says they are proud to provide equipment to other manufacturing facilities. She knows that the company is the best it can be because of all of the hard work past and present employees have put in to make it what it is today. “IMA is an important partner in the longevity of our business. They provide resources for HR, law, lobbying in the statehouse and overall best practices for manufacturing industries.”

  Wabash MPI is a leading international supplier of standard and custom presses to the medical, aerospace, recreation, automotive, education and energy markets. Also included are elastomer and vacuum molding machines for compression, transfer molding, laminating, and trimming. Wabash also offers custom engineered presses, as well as used and reconditioned presses.

  Carver, Inc. offers two-column and four column benchtop, manual and automatic hydraulic laboratory presses with clamping capacities from 12 to 48 tons. Carver presses are suited for various materials research such as plastics and elastomers, as well as pharmaceuticals, analytical chemistry, lab testing, laminating and other applications including sample preparation.

  Wabash/Carver are ISO 9001:2015 registered and employs about 75 people at Wabash MPI’s original location in Wabash, Indiana.

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