best practices

PET Processing

Granulate or Shred: Which Makes Sense for You?

That is the size-reduction question confronting many processors today. Look here for some guidance.

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Understanding Your Options In Multi-Axis Robots For Injection Molding

With so many choices available today, it’s important for molders to understand the pros and cons of Cartesian vs. articulated-arm robots and how their capabilities overlap more than ever before.

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Blow Molder’s Goal: Go Local on a National Scale

It's a rare feat: Combining three formerly separate blow molders under one umbrella while retaining their individual identities and "small company feel" for customers.

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Automation Pays for Itself At Port Erie

Four dozen robots have helped this molder realize a variety of efficiencies.

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INJECTION MOLDING: ‘Know Your Machine’

Many molders think they “know their machine,” but in reality do not. They get consumed by the demands of day-to-day production requirements and lose sight of the big picture.

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processing tips

MATERIALS: Melt Flow Rate Testing—Part 10

Two areas where the melt flow rate test it is not useful are related to processing.

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Film Extrusion

EXTRUSION: Effect of the Screw Flight On Melt Temperature, Energy Use

So-called rules of thumb regarding the design of flight clearance and width do not consider the temperature effect, both from the point of view of melt temperature and energy efficiency.

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Automation

Custom Structural Foam: A Small But Thriving Niche

How to succeed in the small but busy world of custom structural foam? Maximize your pounds per hour and use robots.

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A Better Way to Balance Die Flow

Use temperature adjustments before making any mechanical tweaks.

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best practices

Screw Speed Versus Recovery Time

Many molders don't take screw-rotation speed into account when developing a process for a new mold. Here's why they should.

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Process Cooling
Plastics Size Reduction