best practices
Understanding Fountain Flow in Injection Molding
The phenomenon of fountain flow affects almost every aspect of the molded product—starting with filling, extending to pack and hold, and ultimately manifesting in part defects like bubbles and voids.
Read More
Three Keys to Managing a Successful Tool Transfer
How to effectively manage a tool transfer despite rundown tools, an outdated automation system and difficult materials.
Read More
Use Pressure Control to Minimize Process Variations in Single-Screw Extrusion
You can improve process stability in extrusion by using pressure-control feedback. The stability of the process is based on the pressure variation in the adapter after the extruder. Trials on a variety of polymers revealed how effective this approach can be.
Read More
Make Your Auxiliaries More Energy Efficient
Don’t overlook your auxiliaries when you’re looking for areas to cut energy consumption. Implementing simple changes won’t break the bank and could pay off big by improving your bottom line and reduce your carbon footprint.
Read More
The Long and Short of It (Part 1)—Tips for Molding Long Fiber-Reinforced Polymers
In Part 1 of this series, we address long-fiber processing fundamentals and best practices, including practical tips and guidance on maintaining fiber length and deriving maximum advantages for demanding end applications. Part 2 will provide the same information for short-fiber materials.
Read More
How to Stop Melt Leakage and Carriage Blow-Back
Follow these tips when you have melt leakage around the machine nozzle and sprue bushing or injection-carriage blow-back.
Read More
November’s Most-Viewed Stories
What did visitors to Plastics Technology read in November—the right injection machine for you; controlling and optimizing pack and hold times; resin pricing; polyolefins insights (compounding, density, strain rate); automating pipette production; improving mold cooling and more.
Read More
More Knowledge ... at a Mouse Click
Get to know the Knowledge Centers on Plastics Technology’s website.
Read More
How Does Your Molding Machine Control Pack Pressure?
It seems some new machines have pack velocity issues, as machine builders are confusing processors with controllers that are more complicated than they need to be and less user-friendly.
Read MoreConsidering Scaling Up for More Output? Follow These Tips
Keep these calculations handy when you are trying to decide whether a bigger extruder will get you the output you need.
Read More
