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Functional principles of corrugator technology

Functional principle of die heads in corrugated pipe production with one extruder

This method of production for double wall pipes, whose inner and outer layers are being extruded from the same material supplied from one extruder, is an especially economical design. The below die head has material flow divided by the spider into material for inner and outer layer.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
single extruder doublewall pvc diehead by Unicor
   

This die head was especially manufactured for pipes made of polyolefin such as PE and PP. The extruded material is split up here in the material distributor box and is controlled via bolts. Therefore an individual adjustment of the material supply for the inner and outer wall of the pipe is enabled.

doublewall die head for corrugated pipe using a flow divertor by Unicor
   

Functional principle of die heads in the production with two extruder

One extruder for the pipe external wall, one extruder for the pipe internal wall. Thereby, you have the possibility to use different materials for each pipe layer, to use different colors and to produce flexible pipes.
Immediately after the forming process of the profiles outer layer, the smooth inner layer of the pipe is extruded. Thereby, the high static loading capacity is achieved by means of the homogeneous welding.

Disc die head for pipes with an outer diameter of up to 2000 mm. This construction unites the following advantages due to the relatively short die head:

  • lower weight of the die head
  • shorter flow channels
  • lower energy consumption
  • simple control of the material temperature
  • higher output
  • easier handling

This technology of die head can also be utilized together with a material distributor box using one extruder.

double wall die for smoothwall corrugated pipe by Unicor
 
Unicor doublewall disk die
   

Functional principle of die heads in the production of triple wall pipes

An additional smooth outer layer is put on the corrugated pipe using a cross die head. Often this will then be run through a traditional vacuum sizing tank with a puller and cutoff downstream from the tank. In applications not requiring a smooth outer wall the pipe can be run without a sizing tank.

The use of a cross head die is not limited to making triple wall pipes, but could also be used in the production of technical parts with varying insert sections.

Unicor cross head die for pipe coating
   

Corrugator with a closed mold block channel

Corrugators with a pipe diameter of up to 65 mm are built in closed construction, this allows for very high production speed at a high smoothness of running and continuous lubrication.

They are typically water cooled using a water jacketing method to enclose the mold blocks. This style of corrugator has been a work horse in the automotive wiring harness industry.

Unicor techical series pipe corrugators
   

Corrugator with an open mold block channel

Due to the open horizontal construction, the mold blocks are installed on a chain of mold block carriers.They do not run in closed channels but on a horizontal plate, equipped with guiding rails. The guiding rails combined with a synchronized upper and lower mold block drive, guarantee an exact positioning of the mold blocks in the middle channel and thereby assuring a high pipe quality Due to the open construction and to the mold block design, the mold block change-over has become much easier and faster as only one screw has to be loosened.

unicor closed channel pipe corrugator
   

Shuttle corrugator principal

In the UNICOR shuttle system, the mold blocks in the return channel are not sent back to the middle channel in a closed chain at the same speed. They are sent back individually with increased return speed. This reduces the number of required mold blocks and thus the cost of investment.

The reversing of the mold blocks at the inlet and outlet of the middle channel does not take place in guiding curves. The mold blocks are carried to the inlet and the outlet of the middle channel in a right angle, hereby the width of the machine is reduced. The entire movement of the mold blocks is carried out by servo-motors and is SPS-controlled. This guarantees the highest smoothness of running and an excellent product quality.

Unicor shuttle corrugator
   

Mold Blocks for pipe corrugator machines

Vacuum mold blocks are recommended for a majority of the products:

  • uniform distribution of the wall thickness
  • unlimited possibilities of the pipe profile or part geometry
  • better production tolerances
  • excellent finished part surface
  • increases the production speeds with better plastic to mold contact
  • allows higher use of recycled materials in polymer.
water cooled corrugated pipe moldblock by Unicor
   

Mold Block styles for pipe corrugators

On the inside, the mold blocks show the negative of the profile of the produced pipe as per the profile drawing and upon request with engravings for marking. For making certain diameters, we are also able to put more profiles in one mold block. Thus you save change-over time as well as the costs of additional mold block sets.

Unicor moldblocks single and dual profile
   

The cooling system of closed channel pipe corrugators

The walls of the middle channel and of the return line of the mold blocks are uniformly drizzled with cooling water dealing with the spray cooling. The more efficient the cooling of the mold blocks is, the higher is the production speed and/or the shorter the mold block chains can be. Pipe corrugators using water cooling as the main system to remove heat from the pipe, are typically easier to control the mold temperature.

cross section of a Unicor closed loop tabletop corrugator
   

Mold block cooling for the corrugator range of 500 mm to 2000 mm outer diameter

Direct cooling is required for larger pipe sizes and higher outputs as the heat can be extracted more efficiently.
In shuttle corrugators the cooling water is controlled by a temperature loop that keeps the mold surfaces at a tightly controlled temperature. Water cooled molds are known for very good temperature control especially in climates with highly variable plant temperatures.


water cooled Unicor moldblocks
   
 
 
 
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We are a supporter of Unicor GmbH and work with them on corrugator projects. We have been selling and supporting their equipment for over 17 years. With many manufacturers using their corrugated pipe machinery in North America, Unicor are a world leader of pipe corrugator technology. Get in touch with us for a quotation.

We offer a broad range of pipe extrusion downstream equipment. This includes pipe cutters, takeoff tables, crating equipment and many other accessory machinery used in a pipe plant. The equipment is made in Huron Park, Ontario by Adescor who have been building machinery for pipe extrusion plants for over 20 years.

We offer a range of pipe coiler solution for winding pipe or profiles in extrusion plants. From small manually operated single reel machines to large double head fully automatic systems, we have a pipe winder solution that will meet your needs. The machinery can be used in both solid wall or corrugated pipe extrusion systems.

We offer replacement molds for many types of pipe corrugators used in North America. We also offer proto-typing capability for technical tubes and hoses through a number of our partners. If you need molds made for a new part, and want us to organize the test run, we are happy to do so.