Sealing a service panel in the washing machine rear wall

 

The reference material presented here, FERMAPOR K31-A 9260-26 and B-N (B-component), is a room-temperature-curing 2- component polyurethane foam for the sealing of service panels in washing machine rear walls. It has already proven itself in many years of use by leading appliance manufacturers.

The polyurethane sealing foam is applied directly to the component using FIPFG (Formed-In-Place-Foam-Gasket) technology and our fully automated dosing machines, very precisely, safely and efficiently.

 

Bespoke sealing solutions for the washing machine

 

Polyurethane foam gasket for sealing a service panel in the washing machine rear wall

If desired, we can also customize our polyurethane sealing foams to meet your specific component requirements.

Influencing factors include pot life until start of foaming, curing time, and the viscosity, hardness and adhesion properties. Thanks to a mixed-cell foam structure, the closing forces when installing the foam gasket are low.

The different reaction phases of the sealing foam in the chronological sequence

 

Reference material

    Service panel in the washing machine rear wall
    FERMAPOR K31-A-9260-26   
    FERMAPOR K31-B-N 
Mixing ratio   6 : 1
Pot life time   29 sec.
Tack-free time   4 min.

Viscosity of the A component

  33,000 mPas
Density of the foam   0.18 g/cm³
Hardness (Shore 00)   21
Temperature resistance   from -40 to + 80 °C
Pretreatment   Plasma / Korona / Primer

In addition to the reference products, we develop material systems according to your individual requirements. Influencing factors include pot life until start of foaming, curing time, and the viscosity, hardness and adhesion properties.

 

Repeated opening and re-closing of the service panel for maintenance purposes, while maintaining consistent sealing effect

FERMAPOR K31 polyurethane foam gasket compensates for component tolerances during sealing and has a very good resetting ability of the seal foam structure.

This allows repeated opening and re-closing of the service panels for maintenance purposes, while maintaining a consistent sealing effect of the foam gasket.

It exhibits excellent long-term behavior even after years of continuous use and has good temperature resistance within a range of -40 to +80 °C.

The video shows the polyurethane foam seal FERMAPOR K31 in cross section - first in the uncompressed state, then 50 % compressed, so that the sealing function of the seal is given.

Cross-section of a polyurethane foam bead – unpressed

 

Cross-section of a polyurethane foam bead with approx. 50 % compression 


DM 502 mixing and dosing system with 3-axis linear robot for the sealing of service panels in washing machine rear walls with polyurethane foam

 

Flexible and fully automatic – fully in line with your requirements

The reference configuration shown here for true-to-contour application of FERMAPOR K31 2-component polyurethane sealing foam to the rear wall covers of washing machines consists of the DM 502 mixing and dosing system with a 3-axis linear robot and the WT 1-LEVEL shuttle table. Parts are picked up and processed in continuous shuttle mode in one plane.

Alternatively, we can offer the WT 2-LEVEL shuttle table with pick-up plates in two planes situated one above the other in shuttle mode.

The highly dynamic LR-HD 3-axis linear robot used or, alternatively, the highly efficient LR-HE plus ensures that the MK 800 PRO precision mixing head is guided over the component true to contour.

At the same time, the mixing head applies the polyurethane foam to the pre-programmed contour fully automatically with high dosing accuracy.

After the dosing cycle, the coupling point of the foam gasket closes seamlessly and is thus almost invisible. The applied material foams, expanding to several times its original volume, and forms an elastic soft foam gasket with the desired foam hardness at room temperature.

Due to the chemical reaction of the FERMAPOR K31 material components, good adhesion to the component is usually achieved. A cross-linked structure is formed afterwards, which is extremely resistant to moisture and temperature effects.

Our mixing and dosing machines can be operated easily and intuitively without requiring much training. Thanks to the automatic logging of dosing program data, all process data can be traced and evaluated by the machine operator via the CONTROL 2 operating panel while production is running.

In all solutions, our main focus is on extremely reliable plant engineering, minimized maintenance times and consistent dosing quality. As process experts, we support you with tailored advice for the automation of your manufacturing processes.

Mixing head 825 PRO CONTROL 2 MP 2 Mobile panel WT 1-LEVEL shuttle / sliding table Dosing machine cabinet Control cabinet Supply Tap Elevator

Mixing head 825 PRO

MK 800 PRO precision mixing head with high-pressure water rinsing or alternative component rinsing system

More information to our mixing heads

CONTROL 2

Optionally available: CONTROL touchscreen operating panel (21.5“) for operating the dosing system

More information to our operating panels

MP 2 Mobile panel

The multifunctional MP 2 mobile panel (10.1” WXGA TFT) enables convenient operation of the dosing system.

More information to our operating panels

WT 1-LEVEL shuttle / sliding table

Two pick-up plates operating in pendulum mode in one plane

More information to our shuttle tables

Dosing machine cabinet

The dosing machine cabinet contains the components of the dosing periphery, e.g. the dosing pumps.

More information to our dosing machine cabinets

Control cabinet

The control electronics, safety engineering and industrial PC are installed in the control cabinet.

More information to our control cabinets

Supply Tap

Optional: Automatic SUPPLY TAP drum refilling station for low-viscosity products, e.g. isocyanate (B-component)

More information to our refilling stations

Elevator

Optional: Automatic ELEVATOR drum refilling station for the A-component with pneumatic lift and agitator

More information to our refilling stations