Low maintenance adhesive dispensing and curing systems from Henkel

11 February 2015

New from Henkel is the Loctite Jet Valve system for high speed, bubble-free jet dispensing of adhesives, plus a new LED based adhesive light-cure system.

Two important benefits of the Loctite Jet Valve system are its reliability and easy serviceability. Jet Valve contains fewer wearing parts than competitive systems, and it has no fluid seals to be cleaned or replaced, making maintenance simple and quick. Even the valve is field-repairable.

Many of the internal components are also made from highly durable materials, such as tungsten carbide or ceramics, contributing to the long service life of this product.

Thanks to the very small mass of the diaphragm, the system is capable of very fast cycle rates. It applies up to 300 drops per second and those drops can be as small as 0.3mm in diameter. The diaphragm itself is made from an elastomer that provides the greatest chemical compatibility for a wide range of applications.

As this is a non-contact technology there is no risk of substrate damage in applications such as surface mount electronic assemblies or sensitive medical devices. The system is also able to deliver its uniform pattern of discrete beads regardless of the surface features or shape of the work piece.

Typically the Loctite Jet Valve system will be used for dispensing light-cured adhesives in electronic and medical device manufacture but it can also dispens single-part adhesives and other liquids.

It has an integral heater to raise the temperature of the adhesive up to a maximum of 75°C to achieve optimum viscosity and therefore perfect dispense characteristics. The overall compactness of the system’s design means that minimal space is required to integrate into a production line. Three different nozzle sizes may be specified.

Also new from Henkel is a series of LED-based adhesive light-cure systems in solid-state housings making them extremely durable and portable. These units feature long-life, durability and easy maintenance. LED systems consume less energy and take up less space than traditional UV cure equipment and are easy to automate. They also require no heat protective equipment or costly ventilation systems to protect against infrared and ozone.