Multi-Position Fixture/Puck for Packaging.

grabcad

Multi-Position Fixture/Puck for Packaging Labeling, Printing and filling operations.Please note: I was not be able to test my models using the nTopology software because I did not received a response when I applied for the temporary use of the software.When labeling, printing, filling or capping containers using a semi-automatic or in-line automatic equipment for various shapes and forms of bottles, tubes… a "carrier" is required. A carrier (fixture or puck) can be fixed or have free movement within a motor-driven conveyor. Depending on the number volume of the items, these carriers are machined from solid raw plastic material or are injection molded which can add cost to the operation. The carriers that are made using 3D printing are in most cases bulky and limited to one filling operation or limited to area of label application. My concept of using a permanent conveyor-attached multi-position fixture/puck made of machine aluminum material with bottom and top interchangeable inserts made of 3D printing which can easily be CAD designed to accept various types of shapes and forms of containers. In most cases carriers are designed and manufactured to be limited to one packaging operation using very expensive injection molds and machined from expensive solid materials plus using expensive equipment like CNC’s utilizing multiple set-ups to achieve what the nTopology software together with Stratasys FDM materials can achieve at a lower cost. Another comparison on speed and savings using nTopology software together with Stratasys FDM materials is the time and the labor-intensive it takes to build and run an injection mold and or make time available to set up and run CNC equipment. Another challenging issue with custom packaging is the delivery times, in most cases the solid model of, let’s say, a bottle, already exist all it is necessary is to use the function cut with scaling applied to the bottle together with some material removal adjustments using the CAD and nTopology and in a couple of hours parts can be 3D printed what would take days and weeks using the alternative. With all of the above said, if using in-line automatic equipment and depending on the number of fixtures or pucks required, the injection-molded method can still be the most efficient.With good planning and a couple of smart minds, the packaging industry will have a great future using these new 3D printing technologies.