Kistler releases melt pressure sensor for measurements directly in nozzle
October 31, 2022
Kistler Group, Winterthur, Switzerland, has released a miniature (3 mm front diameter) piezoresistive melt pressure sensor suitable for measurements directly into injection nozzles and small extruders. The 4004A measures both pressure and temperature in direct contact with the melt, and is suitable for Injection Moulding and Additive Manufacturing in temperatures up to 350ºC.
For the two different processes, the 4004A features two separately calibrated pressure ranges that enable higher accuracy: up to 2,500 bar for the hot runner in Injection Moulding, and up to 1,000 bar for Additive Manufacturing.
The new sensor allows easy access to its internal key parameters via TEDS (Transducer Electronic Data Sheet). The temperature-compensated pressure signal can be accessed via the analog output or the sensor’s RS232 interface, so it can be acquired and visualised with measuring equipment such as the ComoNeo process monitoring system, also by Kistler. And since no oil or mercury is used to transmit signals, the sensor is suitable to industries such as as medtech.
“With this innovation, we’re offering our customers a digital measuring chain for hot runner and Additive Manufacturing applications – the key to smarter monitoring of the melt flow in hot runner systems, as well as Additive Manufacturing systems,” stated Dr Robert Vaculik, Head of BU Plastics at Kistler.
