Precision Control Systems Inc. (formerly known as Research Inc.) designs and manufactures industrial infrared process heating systems including controls.
PCS manufactures and tests your systems in a UL 508 certified workshop and provides worldwide support.
The following is an overview of available products:
PCS has been producing fast heating, quartz T3 lamp systems since 1952. These systems were developed in conjunction with the United States Space Program to provide precise control of infrared heat in various aerospace applications. Today these heating systems are used in many industrialheating applications to provide rapid, controlled infrared heat to a variety of thermal processes. Users of this type of T3 system realize many benefits including:
- Increased line speeds
- Reduced floor space requirements
- Lower energy consumption
Research Inc. Infrarood Heater
Typical applications of PCS infrared heating include:
- Silicone rubber vulcanization: Cure silicone rubber tube and profiles at 4 times the speed of conventional hot wall resistance heaters
- Wire and cable heating: Provide rapid heating of wire and co-axial cable for drying and heating prior to extrusion of plastic
- Plastic Film Heating: Rapidly heat plastic film for laminating, stretching or forming
- Plastic Manufacturing: Preheat PET preforms or thermoformed sheet faster and more uniformly than with competitive systems
- Coil and Strip Coating: Provide fast and uniform heat from edge to edge on coil and strip lines
- Annealing: Anneal materials from low temperature plastics to high temperature metal
Benefits of T3 Technology
Infrared (IR) halogen lamps (T3) consist of a tungsten filament encased in quartz. T3 lamps are available as a point source or as a linear source from 2 to 38 inches (51 to 965 mm) long, and power up to 5000 watts. Tungsten is a fast responding resistive element that produces high intensity infrared energy when power is applied. T3 lamps
are coupled with either polished aluminum or ceramic reflectors to direct and enhance the infrared heating effect. As compared with other infrared emitters (see Table 1), T3 lamps have greater heating capability, greater radiating efficiency, and faster response.
Table 1
T3 lamps produce a full spectrum of infrared heat (see Figure 1), that is optimum for most plastic, rubber, and coating materials
Figure 1
Products
LineIR: The LineIR® concentrates infrared energy to a long, narrow area of up to 0.18 x 38 inches (5 x 965 mm). The LineIR® is commonly used in wire heating and plastic
bending applications. The water-cooled reflectors coupled with the rapid response T3 lamps offers the users benefits of a high density heating solution and instant on and off
response.
LineIR
More information on the PCS LineIR model 5194: LineIR Model5194 Data Sheet
Alu StripIR: The aluminum, water-cooled StripIR® concentrates radiant heat to an area up to 1.5 x 38 inches (38 x 965 mm). The water-cooled reflectors coupled
with the rapid response T3 lamps offers the users benefits of a high density heating solution and instant on and off response.
Alu StripIR
More information on PCS Alu StripIR models 5306 en 5560:
StripIR Model5306 Data Sheet
StripIR Model5560 Data Sheet
Ceramic StripIR: The ceramic, air-cooled StripIR® concentrates radiant heat to an area up to 1.7 x 38 inches (43 x 965 mm). The maintenance free ceramic
reflector creates a uniform heating pattern, and the StripIR® is ideal for heating in environments where process out gassing may cause reflector contamination.
Ceramic StripIR
More information on the PCS Ceranic StripIR model 4185: StripIR Model4185 Data Sheet
SpotIR: The SpotIR® offers the capability to heat a small circular area. The aircooled reflectors coupled with the rapid response T3 lamps offers the users benefits of a high density heating solution and instant on and off response. There are two unique heaters in this family designed for different spot sizes and heater densities.
SpotIR
More information in the PCS SpotIR models 4085 and 4150:
SpotIR Model4085 Data Sheet
SpotIR Model4150 Data Sheet
PanelIR: The PanelIR® rapidly heats larger flat areas. These heaters are commonly used over moving webs and coil lines. The air-cooled ceramic reflectors, coupled with the rapid response T3 lamps offers the users benefits of a high density heating solution and instant on and off response. These heaters can be used alone, or together to create a larger heated area.
PanelIR
More information on the PCS PanelIR model 4555: PanelIR Model4555 DataSheet
ModuleIR:The ModuleIR® offers the capability to create a custom area heater design to match the application’s area heating needs. Multiple modules are housed together in a sheet metal enclosure to provide the desired heating effect. The water-cooled aluminum reflectors coupled with the rapid response T3 lamps offers the users benefits of a high density heating solution and instant on and off response. Heating densities of up to 330 watts/in2 are available. The ModuleIR® heater can replace several older Research Inc. heaters including models 5090, 5094, and 5236.
ModuleIR
LoTempIR: The LoTempIR® offers the capability to heat with quartz halogen lamps in low density heating applications. This aircooled heater can be used in a bank of multiple heaters to provide a relatively low heating density to a large area
LoTempIR
Hi-TempIR: The Hi-TempIR® series of electric infrared heaters for applications requiring very high heat flow density in concentrated areas. The modular design of these heaters can be combined and heated at will according to the size and shape of the object. The heaters typically require both water and air cooling to protect the lamps and reflectors. Temperatures above 1700 °C and watt densities up to 440 watts/cm2 are achievable. The various models of the heater family can be used in many different manufacturing, laboratory and test applications, such as Aerodynamic heating simulation, thermal stress testing, heating of tensile and fatigue specimens, semiconductor wafer processing, chemical processing, low stress annealing and metal soldering.
Hi-TempIR
More information on the PCS Hi-TempIR model 5209: HiTempIR Model5209 Data Sheet
ChambIR: The ChambIR® family offers two unique heater designs. The parabolic clamshell is designed to heat continuous materials such as tube, pipe, and profiles that have an outer diameter from 0.25 inch (6 mm) to 6 inches (152 mm). The elliptical chamber is designed for thermally processing smaller size continuous materials such as tube, cable, and wire with an outer diameter less than from 0.25 inch (6 mm). The ChambIR® family provides heating rates four times greater than convection or hot wall IR
systems. The water-cooled reflectors coupled with the rapid response T3 lamps offers the users benefits of a high density heating solution and instant on and off response.
ChambIR
More information on the PCS ChambIR models E4 and 4069:
ChamberIR ModelE4 Data Sheet
ChamberIR Model4069 Data Sheet