Arburg: Micro Injection Molding of Delicate 0.002-Gram Components

An electric Allrounder 270 A equipped with a micro injection unit, robotic system and clean-air hood is suitable for producing microcomponents with shot weights below 0.01 grams – (Photo: Arburg).

At Fakuma 2026, Arburg will showcase a production cell for the micro injection molding of components weighing just 0.002 grams each. A four-cavity mold produces four POM microfilters per cycle, with a total shot weight of only 0.008 grams. The parts are produced without sprues and are subsequently deposited separately by cavity.

At the heart of the cell is an electric "Allrounder 270 A" with a clamping force of 300 kN. The machine is equipped with a Euromap size 5 micro injection unit and a linear "Multilift Select 4" robotic system. The four-cavity mold is supplied by toolcraft, while the hot runner system comes from Günther Heißkanaltechnik. According to Arburg, the cycle time is around seven seconds.

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The micro injection unit is designed for short travel distances and highly dynamic filling at extremely low shot weights. It combines an 8 mm injection screw with a 15 or 18 mm plasticizing screw. Material preparation follows the first-in, first-out principle. The injection screw is equipped with a non-return valve and operates according to the screw-plunger principle. Arburg says the system can process standard pellet sizes as well as commonly used thermoplastics.

For automated part handling, Arburg uses the "Multilift Select 4" robotic system, which offers a payload of four kilograms. A gripper places the microfilters on a conveyor belt, keeping the parts separated by cavity. To minimize electrostatic charging of the extremely lightweight components, ionized air is applied at the gripper. An additional ionizing bar positioned at the conveyor is intended to prevent the parts from becoming statically charged again.

At Fakuma 2026, an electric Allrounder 270 A will produce complex 0.002-gram microfilters featuring delicate structures – (Photo: Arburg).

The electric "Alldrive" series uses directly acting, backlash-free spindle drives. These enable simultaneous machine movements and are designed to support a high level of repeatability even at short cycle times. The servo-electric drives also recover braking energy and feed it back into the system. According to Arburg, electric "Allrounder" machines can reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent compared with conventional hydraulic machines. The enclosed, liquid-cooled drives also help reduce noise, dust contamination and air turbulence, making them suitable for sensitive production environments.

The Fakuma 2026 application highlights the demanding requirements for precise dosing and repeatability at shot weights below 0.01 grams. At the same time, the production cell integrates micro injection molding, hot runner technology, electric machine technology and automated part handling into a continuous manufacturing process.

Fakuma 2026
Friedrichshafen, Germany
October 12–16, 2026
Hall A3, Booth 3101

More information: www.arburg.com, www.amk-motion.com

Arburg GmbH + Co KG, Loßburg, Germany

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