best practices
Determining Vent Depths in Injection Molding
Experiments reveal the relationship between vent depths and part thickness, allowing molders and moldmakers to more precisely determine vent dimensions.
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Making an Impact In Thin-Gauge Sheet
Creating a ‘virtually integrated supply chain’ that connects it with suppliers and customers has helped Impact Plastics add value to a wide range of sheet products, with a growing emphasis on PP.
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Injection Molding: Nozzle Heaters & Thermocouples: A Case of Wiring Done Wrong
Incorrect placement of wires for these components frustrates molders and costs them money to boot.
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A Processor’s Most Important Job, Part 1: Molecular Weight
Many processors don’t realize that preserving material characteristics is crucial to product success and failure. The focus here is on molecular weight.
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What You Can Learn From Pharma Compounders
Twin-screw extrusion has been a standard in plastics compounding for decades but has only recently been embraced by the pharmaceutical industry. Here’s what plastics compounders might learn from the ‘newbies’ to help make a better, more consistent product.
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How Sprue Pullers Help Prevent Molding Issues: Part 2
A vital secondary function of sprue pullers is to act as a cold well to trap solidified material left in the machine-nozzle tip.
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Extrusion: How Hopper Crammers Can Help Feeding
A crammer can assist the flow of certain polymers into the extruder. But the design is not universal and very material dependent. Here’s what you need to know.
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Injection Molding: New Mold Trial—Will It Run 24/7?
Use this nine-step process to make sure you’ll be making good parts after a successful trial. But even then, be prepared for some hiccups.
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Materials: Cycle Time—Science vs. Rules of Thumb, Part 6
This installment—on elastomers—completes a series, whose theme is to bring more science to the discipline of molding. The overall message: Ask a lot of questions whenever someone posits this or that ‘rule of thumb’ about processing.
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An Inside Look at Turbulent Flow
Years of talk about observing and studying coolant flow in a clear simulated cooling channel finally becomes a reality. Here’s how it all came together, and what it all means.
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