processing tips
A Guide to Ultrasonic Welding Controls
Ultrasonic welding today is a sophisticated process that offers numerous features for precise control. Choosing from among all these options can be daunting; but this guide will help you make sense of your control features so you can approach your next welding project with the confidence of getting good results.
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How to Optimize Pack & Hold Times for Hot-Runner & Valve-Gated Molds
Applying a scientific method to what is typically a trial-and-error process. Part 2 of 2.
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The Importance of Melt & Mold Temperature
Molders should realize how significantly process conditions can influence the final properties of the part.
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Hot Runners: A View from the Bottom Up
Addressing hot-runner benefits, improvements, and everyday issues from the perspective of decades of experience with probably every brand on the market. Part 1 of 2.
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How to Set Barrel Zone Temps in Injection Molding
Start by picking a target melt temperature, and double-check data sheets for the resin supplier’s recommendations. Now for the rest...
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The Strain Rate Effect
The rate of loading for a plastic material is a key component of how we perceive its performance.
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Why (and What) You Need to Dry
Other than polyolefins, almost every other polymer exhibits some level of polarity and therefore can absorb a certain amount of moisture from the atmosphere. Here’s a look at some of these materials, and what needs to be done to dry them.
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Tunnel Gates for Mold Designers, Part 1
Of all the gate types, tunnel gates are the most misunderstood. Here’s what you need to know to choose the best design for your application.
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The Effects of Temperature
The polymers we work with follow the same principles as the body: the hotter the environment becomes, the less performance we can expect.
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