Know-How

Tooling Know-How

What You Need to Know About Leader Pins and Bushings

There’s a lot more to these humble but essential mold components than you might suspect. Following the author’s tips could save much time, money and frustration.

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How to Decrease the Extrudate Temperature in Single-Screw Extruders

In many cases, decreasing the discharge temperature will improve product quality and perhaps even boost rate. Here are ways to do it.

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best practices

Get the Most From Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites Parts

There are five specific areas that designers and manufacturers need to consider to realize the potential of these unique materials.

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Polymer Science for Those Who Work With Plastic — Part 1: The Repeat Unit

What are the basic building blocks of plastics and how do they affect the processing of that material and its potential applications in the real world? Meet the repeat unit.

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Why Are There No 'Universal' Screws for All Polymers?

There’s a simple answer: Because all plastics are not the same. 

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Three Key Decisions for an Optimal Ejection System

When determining the best ejection option for a tool, molders must consider the ejector’s surface area, location and style.

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In Single Screw Extruders, Mixing Starts in the Melting Process

While the melting process does not provide perfect mixing, this study shows that mixing is indeed initiated during melting.  

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Starting or Restarting an Injection Molding Machine — What Works Best?

Successfully starting or restarting an injection molding machine is less about ticking boxes on a rote checklist and more about individually assessing each processing scenario and its unique variables.

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Extrusion

Troubleshooting Flow Surging in Single-Screw Extruders

Surging can cause lower production rates, higher scrap rates, material degradation and higher labor costs. Here is a guide to troubleshooting this problem.

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Home In on These Six Variables to Monitor Molding

There are hundreds of variables in molding, but focusing on these six will help you make consistent parts.  

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