W.S.G. Isaac Newton

A UPS to Facilitate Easy Clamp Opening During a Blackout Stork IMM, Hengelo Ana Vukasovic, master ME During my time at Stork I worked on designing an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system for their injection molding machines. Injection molding machines can acquire significant damage if left under high clamping force for long periods of time. This is due to all of the oil being pushed out of the bearings, making it very difficult to open the machine afterward. Factories in locations such as South Africa, which experience frequent blackouts, are at higher risk of premature machine retirement. This is why a UPS system was designed to help Stork to better market their machines to South Africa. Multiple concepts were considered and explored during my assignment, but a UPS system consisting of a large battery pack and a servo drive was chosen as the best option for this application due to its modularity, durability, safety, and reliability. A company called Bosch Rexroth was contacted to provide powerful enough drives that contain integrated battery control functions. Indra Drives were chosen as the best option since they offer battery control and use during a blackout, as well as energy recovery and power buffering during regular operation, which in turn can replace multiple components in the machine, making the solution very cost and energy-effective. I took part in negotiating an offer for such drives from Bosch and in the end, I was able to provide the company with an official offer for the necessary components and a two-year implementation plan for the solution system. Working at Stork was very fun and interesting, and I have enjoyed working on a real-life problem and interacting with suppliers. This experience has given me a taste of what it is like to work in the industry and I have gained in-depth knowledge about injection molding machines. Overall, I appreciate this opportunity as the skills that I have acquired and improved during my internship will be useful in my future career as an engineer.