All standard Microtruders include the extruder and a control panel.  The standard extruder includes a 24:1 working L/D ratio 4140 hardened screw, removable water cooled feed section made from hardened stainless steel (s.s.), a 1750 RPM DC motor, 15:1 gear reducer with integral thrust bearings and keyed drive quill, nitrided s.s. barrel with mica band heaters, s.s.  barrel cover, rupture disc¹ , and a s.s. breaker plate.  The standard control panel includes (3) auto tuning temperature controllers for the barrel and (1) for the die, a DC motor control with 20:1 speed ratio and with tach feedback, a 10 turn screw speed control potentiometer, DC motor ammeter, and a digital screw speed readout.   An instruction manual and start-up polymer are included.  Bench mounting is standard and includes height and leveling adjustment (shown on the RCP-1000 below).  Typical dimensions are given on page 7.
 
 

¹ Standard on all Microtruders except the RCP-0250.  Technical bulletin available.
² Output depends on many factors.  This information is only a guide.  Output tests used for this chart were for LLDPE at mininum speeds of 10 RPM and maximum speeds of 120 RPM for the RCP-0250 to the RCP-0625.  Maximum output of the RCP-0750 and larger were using a grooved feed section and HIPS. Output of other materials may vary substantially.
³ If this dimension is close to the maximum feed stock dimension, lab testing might be prudent to insure performance.  Maximum size is also dependent on specific screw design.
⁴ A standard RCP-0500 screw will accept most conventional “1/8 inch” pellets.
 
 

The following is a list of our most popular options.  If you don’t find what you need, please call us.

HARDWARE

INTERCHANGEABLE EXTRUDERS:  Our modular design allows the interchange of different size barrels and screws!  Extend your processing range while you save money using the same control panel and transmission.

VENTS: Randcastle has developed a novel, more efficient venting mechanism by incorporating thin film degassing within its patent pending Recirculator mixer.  This allows us to create a vent in a as little as 2 L/Ds so that three vents in a 36/1 L/D are now possible.     Venting Paper 

MELT EXTRUDERS: Also called “Screw Pumps,” melt extruders accept a melt (such as from a polymer reactor or twin screw extruder) and build pressure either to make a product or to pelletize.

GEAR PUMPS: Considered the ultimate in volumetric control, gear pumps allow for the highest tolerance products.

MOUNTING SYSTEMS²: Post, plate, and other mounting styles allow you to customize the Microtruder for your application.

HIGH TEMPERATURE HEATERS: Mineral filled heaters are recommended where operating temperatures exceed 550F.

MOTORS: Higher HP, speeds, and voltages.

SPARE SCREWS:  Patent pending Recirculator mixers for superb compounding/mixing including 50,000 times magnification of nano-particles, 40 percent wood filler, triple venting, immiscible blends, widely separated viscosity materials and much more. Compounding Paper

FEED SECTIONS: Easily changed feed sections allow improved pressure stability¹ or  higher output¹.   Roller feed sections are available for soft “taffy like” strip feed stocks.

PLATINGS: Protect against wear and corrosion or improve performance with chrome, nickel, release1, and other platings.
 

ELECTRICAL

PRESSURE:  Highly recommended option tells you how high and how stable the pressure is.  Pressure feed back control¹ (stops long term pressure drift) is also available.

AUTOMATIC OVER AMPERAGE SHUT DOWN:  Set the maximum load where you want to stop the screw during an over amperage situation and avoid costly mistakes.

AIR COOLING: Fans (see cover picture) maximize process temperature control.

MELT TEMPERATURE READOUT: A thermocouple in direct contact with the melted material gives the polymer temperature.

OEM: Building your own control system?  Order without motor or controls.

VISCOSITY: Randcastle offers an integrated extruder with a on line rheometer!  A paper published at the SME Vinyl Conference is available.  Recent tests on carbon black showed distinct apparent viscosity changes from less than 1% loading differences.

TORQUE: Measure the torque and infer viscosity¹.

1 A technical bulletin or a published paper is available on this topic.
2 Drawings available.
 
 

These are the dimensions for the standard Microtruder. As we are always improving our product, these dimensions should be used only as a guide.  Certified dimensional drawings and detailed die mounting drawings are available.

 
 

RANDCASTLE'S TYPICAL LAB LINES
Microtruders are integrated into "turnkey" laboratory lines.  Some examples are shown below.

 
 

MICROTRUDER BROCHURE PART I  (Size 2.42 MB)

MICROTRUDER BROCHURE PART II  (Size 2.60 MB)

MICROTRUDER BROCHURE PART III (Size 2.42 MB)

U.S. Patents
5,486,328; 5,515,672; 5,569,429
Other U.S. and Foreign Patents Pending

For more information email us at sales@randcastle.com