Meter Mix Dispensing: Your Most Common Questions Answered
Choosing the right dispensing system is a critical decision that impacts your product quality, production speed, and bottom line. When it comes to two-component materials, “meter mix” is the standard for precision—but it also comes with unique technical considerations.
To help you navigate these complexities, we’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions our engineering team receives about Meter Mix Applications.
1. What metering process should I select for my application?
Selecting the appropriate process is a balancing act. You must evaluate your material properties, your required shot size range, and your target cycle time. Every metering technology has its own set of pros and cons based on these three factors.
Because no two applications are identical, we recommend having your PVA representative assess your specific parameters to provide a tailored technology recommendation.
2. What shot sizes and types can you dispense?
With PVA’s range of solutions, shot size is virtually unlimited. For the smallest, most delicate volumes, our PDP015 progressive cavity pump is the go-to choice.
Whether your process requires tiny dots, continuous beads, or large-volume doses for potting, our systems provide the ultimate flexibility for the end user.
3. What exactly does “pot life” mean?
In the world of chemistry processing, pot life is defined as the amount of time it takes for a mixed material’s viscosity to double. This is a vital metric because it represents the limit of “handling time” we consider when designing your dispensing solution to ensure the material doesn’t harden inside the equipment.
4. What is dynamic mixing and why should I consider it?
In a dynamic mixing setup, each fluid component is fed into a chamber and blended by a rotating mixer using shear and elongation blades.
You should consider this option if your chemistries have a wide viscosity delta or an extreme mix ratio. Controlling the mixer speed allows for a truly homogeneous blend that static mixers may not be able to achieve with difficult materials.
5. My chemistry has filler in it. Is this a problem?
Not at all. Fillers are quite common because they provide tangible benefits to the end product. However, they can prematurely wear down equipment depending on their hardness and particle size. To combat this, carbide is utilized as it is the premier wear-resistant material for these applications.
When fillers are present, we recommend specific equipment selections to extend the life of your pumps:
- PCC250: This meter mix solution features a carbide rod and seat, providing superior resistance against abrasive materials.
- PDP Series: All sizes of our progressive cavity pumps are available with an optional carbide rotor, specifically designed for filled or abrasive chemistries.
6. How much cleaning and maintenance is required?
We design PVA solutions to minimize downtime. Our mixing heads keep individual components isolated until they are blended outside of the valve body.
To keep things running smoothly, we simply recommend an automated purge of the mixer elements before the material reaches its pot life. At the end of the day, you just remove the disposable mixer, discard it, and cap the valve—no intensive cleaning or purging is required.
7. Can you provide heating or agitation?
Yes. Every application is evaluated individually to create a solution just for you. If your process requires degassing, recirculation, agitation, or dispensing at a specific temperature, we can integrate those options into your precision package.
Have a question we didn’t cover? Our global service network and applications engineers are ready to help you engineer a robust, repeatable process. Contact PVA today to get started.