How to choose a suitable halogen infrared heating lamp for a blow molding machine?
1.Consider the heating power
Match the production speed: Choose a heating lamp with the appropriate power according to the production speed of the blow molding machine. If the production speed of the blow molding machine is fast and the preform stays in the heating area for a short time, a higher power heating lamp is required to ensure that the preform can be fully heated and softened in a short time. For example, for a high-speed blow molding machine (producing 60-100 bottles per minute), each heating lamp may need a power of 1-2 kilowatts; while for a medium-to-low speed blow molding machine (producing 30-60 bottles per minute), a heating lamp with a power of 0.5-1 kilowatt may be sufficient.
Combined with the size and material of the preform: larger preforms or thicker materials require more heat to soften, so a higher power heating lamp should be selected. For example, for large-capacity (such as 5 liters) plastic preforms or thicker PET preforms, a higher power heating lamp is required to ensure the heating effect than a small-capacity (such as 0.5 liters) or thin preforms.
2.Pay attention to the wavelength range
Adapt the absorption characteristics of the preform material: Different plastic materials have different sensitivities to the absorption wavelength of infrared. For example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) preforms absorb infrared with a wavelength of about 2.5-3.0μm better, so it is necessary to choose a heating lamp that can emit infrared in this wavelength range, which can improve the heating efficiency. If the preform material is mainly PP (polypropylene), its absorption peak may be around 3.2-3.5μm, and a heating lamp with a corresponding wavelength is needed to better match the absorption characteristics of the material.
3.Consider the heating depth requirements: If infrared rays are required to penetrate deep into the preform for heating, a heating lamp with a longer wavelength should be selected. Generally speaking, long-wavelength infrared rays have better penetration and can make the inside and outside of the preform heated more evenly. However, too long a wavelength may cause the heating speed to slow down, so it is necessary to comprehensively consider the balance between the heating speed and the heating depth.
4. Evaluate the size and shape of the heating lamp
Adapt to the layout of the heating area of the blow molding machine: The size of the heating lamp should be able to match the heating area of the blow molding machine. If the space in the heating area is limited, you need to choose a small and compact heating lamp; if the space in the heating area is large, in order to ensure heating uniformity, you can choose a larger size or a combination of multiple smaller heating lamps. For example, for some small desktop blow molding machines, it may be appropriate to choose a small heating lamp with a length of 10-20 cm; while for large industrial blow molding machines, a heating lamp with a length of 30-50 cm or a combination of multiple small heating lamps would be more suitable.
