#BESTPRACTICES

Injection Molding

How to Achieve Simulation Success, Part 1: Model Accuracy and Mesh Decisions

Molding simulation software is a powerful tool, but what you get out of it depends very much on your initial inputs. Follow these tips to create the most successful simulation possible.


How to Achieve Simulation Success, Part 1: Model Accuracy and Mesh Decisions image
Compounding

What to Know About Your Materials When Choosing a Feeder

Feeder performance is crucial to operating extrusion and compounding lines. And consistent, reliable feeding depends in large part on selecting a feeder compatible with the materials and additives you intend to process. Follow these tips to analyze your feeder requirements.

Know How

How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Barrel Layout

In twin-screw compounding, most engineers recognize the benefits of being able to configure screw elements. Here’s what you need to know about sequencing barrel sections.  

Molds & Tooling

The Impact of Hydraulics on Tool Design -- Part 1 of 2

Get a better understanding of their use, proper sizing, and how the tool design and setup in the machine can impact failures in manufacturing.

Injection Molding

Use Cavity Pressure Measurement to Simplify GMP-Compliant Medical Molding

Cavity-pressure monitoring describes precisely what’s taking place inside the mold, providing a transparent view of the conditions under which a part is created and ensuring  conformance with GMP and ISO 13485 in medical injection molding.

Injection Molding

How Important is Minimizing Residence Time in Injection Molding?

Does a focus on the concept of “minimum residence time” distract attention from areas of injection molding that have more of a direct impact on melt quality?

Heating & Cooling

Troubleshooting Leaky Temperature-Control Units

Learn the causes, symptoms and remedies for TCU leaks to keep these vital contributors to plastics processing up and running longer and more efficiently.

Materials Know How

The Effects of Time on Polymers

Last month we briefly discussed the influence of temperature on the mechanical properties of polymers and reviewed some of the structural considerations that govern these effects.

Michael Sepe
, Michael P. Sepe LLC

The Effects of Time on Polymers image
Compounding

The Path to Pellet Perfection

In underwater pelletizing, numerous variables in the equipment, process and material affect pellet shape, consistency and quality factors such as fines. Defining the “perfect” pellet depends on the conditions of end use, and achieving that ideal requires understanding  of the causes of imperfections.

Tooling Know How

How to Select the Right Tool Steel for Mold Cavities

With cavity steel or alloy selection there are many variables that can dictate the best option.

Hot Runners

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.

Hot Runners

Optimizing Pack & Hold Times for Hot-Runner & Valve-Gated Molds

Using scientific procedures will help you put an end to all that time-consuming trial and error. Part 1 of 2.

Materials

The Importance of Melt & Mold Temperature

Molders should realize how significantly process conditions can influence the final properties of the part.

Extrusion

Extruder Alignment: Important, but Only Half the Equation

The other half? Aligning and supporting downstream equipment. Here are best practices.

Materials Know How

The Effects of Stress on Polymers

Previously we have discussed the effects of temperature and time on the long-term behavior of polymers. Now let's take a look at stress.

Michael Sepe
, Michael P. Sepe LLC

The Effects of Stress on Polymers image
Injection Molding

Warpage Waylaid Via Simulation

Designed to form a component that would hold headlights in place, the mold was intended to produce a front-end automobile bracket. Instead of parts however, the tool’s real output was problems.

Injection Know How

Understanding Flow Fronts and Defects

Flow-front behavior and corrections are key to solving many common molding problems —what is your process’s flow trying to tell you about your part?

Injection Molding

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.

Injection Know How

Melt Preparation Part 1: Melt Temperature Optimization

A homogenous melt is required for consistent part quality, but achieving it requires balancing a number of factors, including barrel usage and temperature as well as screw speed, backpressure and residence time. Learn how to prepare your melt for molding success in this two-part series.

Injection Molding

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...

Materials Know How

The Strain Rate Effect

The rate of loading for a plastic material is a key component of how we perceive its performance. 

Injection Molding

How Backpressure Optimization Affects Melt Preparation

Backpressure is often the least understood of the settings in an injection molding process, even though it can play a significant role in the final quality of the part. Let’s start with understanding what backpressure is and then learn how to optimize it for a given mold.

Suhas Kulkarni
, Fimmtech Inc.

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Injection Molding

How to Mount an Injection Mold

Five industry pros with more than 200 years of combined molding experience provide step-by-step best practices on mounting a mold in a horizontal injection molding machine.

Molds & Tooling

How Additive Manufacturing Can Help, not Hinder, Injection Moldability of New Designs

Four cost drivers—design for moldability, mold-base size, internal componentry, polish/custom finishing—dictate the financial and processing success of a molded part design. Learn how 3D printing can assist this process, while also understanding its potential pitfalls.

Highlights from the Recycling Open House

At the PLASTICS Recycling Open House, leaders shared challenges and successes.

Materials Know How

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.

August 2022: Most-Read Articles

Simulation, hot runner manifold leaks, calculating shot size, resin pricing and more drew reader interest this August at PTOnline.com

Injection Molding

What is Backpressure and How Should We Calculate It?

Does using an intensification ratio to calculate backpressure result in an accurate reflection of what’s happening in the barrel? Newer machine technologies have us revisiting an old project with fresh eyes.

See how Conair makes every pellet count
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