The sheet manufacturing machine is primarily used to process various raw materials into sheet-like materials. Its working principle typically involves the following key steps:
First is the raw material preparation stage. Depending on the type and quality requirements of the sheet to be produced, suitable raw materials such as plastic pellets, metal powders, or fiber materials are selected. These materials undergo pre-treatment processes like screening and drying to ensure purity and dryness, preparing them for subsequent processing.
Next is the plasticization or melting stage. For polymer materials like plastics, the raw materials are heated to a molten state using heating devices to achieve good fluidity for shaping. Precise temperature control is crucial during this process—excessive heat may cause material decomposition, while insufficient heat may result in poor fluidity, affecting sheet quality. For metal materials, melting is typically employed to convert them into a liquid state.
Following this is the forming step. The plasticized or molten material is extruded or calendered into sheets using specific molds or forming devices. For example, the common extrusion molding method utilizes a screw to push the molten material through a flat die, forming continuous sheets. Calendering, on the other hand, involves passing the material through multiple counter-rotating rollers to produce thin sheets.
Finally, cooling and solidification take place. The newly formed sheets are at a high temperature and remain somewhat pliable. Rapid cooling methods such as air cooling or water cooling are employed to quickly lower the temperature, fixing the shape and achieving the desired strength and hardness, thereby completing the sheet manufacturing process.