3-D VACUUM BLADDER OVEN
Alliance Industries' 3-D vacuum bladder oven has been designed and built to set cross-linked adhesives under pressure and heat for bonding a cover stock to a substrate. The machine in the video was specifically designed to work with Thermonex 063A water-based adhesive, but will also work with any cross-linked adhesive. (Note: Some of the parameters that will be discussed will apply to Thermonex recommendations. Please be advised to discuss all parameters with your Alliance representative at commissioning.)
Heated Vacuum Membrane Press
The machine shown in the video above has a rotating table top to allow for the cooling and loading/unloading of parts during the heating phase of the opposite side of the tabletop. It is designed to work with Alliance Industries' 5-layer composite, high heat epoxy tools fitted with silicone 3-D bladders. When vacuum is drawn, the silicone bladder applies constant pressure to the components, bonding the cover stock to the substrate.
Integral to this machine is an insulated convection oven on the underside of the table top capable of reaching constant, even temperatures of up to 350°F. The main function of this machine is to raise the temperature of the wrapped part to the bond line temperature and dwell at that temperature for a specified amount of time, while under pressure from the silicone bladder, to set the adhesive. The parts are then allowed to cool down. An optional cooling hood is recommended to cool the parts before they are handled.
