Radar relies on polyurethane RIM (August 01, 2000)

Raytheon Marine needed a material with strength and good surface quality for the CRT display bezel and control tray for MK2 high seas radar systems used around the clock on supertankers, freighters, and cruise ships.

“We selected a structural foam reaction injection molding system because we know its strength capabilities can pass the severe vibration and shock testing we specified,” says Richard Donovan, mechanical design engineer for Raytheon Marine.

Raytheon uses Baydur 726 interactive blowing system, a RIM system from Bayer Corporation.

As part of the RIM process, sheet metal plates are molded into the control tray’s two legs for fixed mounting to a table or console.

PMI, a molder in Rhode Island, produces three different bezels for Raytheon from only two molds. An insert in the tool cavity allows the two 29-inch CRTs to be molded from the same tool. PMI also molds in threaded inserts for an air filter.

Secondary operations are minimal. PMI sprays the inside of the display bezel with a copper conductive coating paint as a shield against radio-frequency interference and electromagnetic interference. The molder paints the outside of the display bezel and control tray with a primer, gray paint, then a textured finish coat. The Raytheon logo is silk-screened on the bezel.

Bayer Corporation 800/622-6004 Circle Reader Service No. 192