Know-How
A Processor’s Most Important Job, Part 4: Mold Temperature
Engineering polymers require higher mold temperatures to achieve their ideal structure. The temptation to turn down the mold temperatures can hurt part performance.
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Cast vs. Integral: Which Feed Section Is Best for You?
Here are seven factors extrusion processors should weigh to help them decide between cast feed section versus an integral extrusion feed section.
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Tooling: Hot Sprues—Mold a Disk or Not?
Having a hot sprue shut off against the parting line versus intentionally molding a thin disk has been the subject of controversy for many years.
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Extrusion: Understanding Weld Failures
Hard-surfacing failures without evidence of burrs indicate possible weld bond issues.
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Injection Molding: How to Set Barrel Zone Temps
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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A Processor’s Most Important Job, Part 3: Unintended Consequences
Processors are often expected to compensate for ill-advised decisions made earlier in the product-development process. In the case of shrinkage, one of the most common ‘fixes’ is to simply reduce the mold temperature.
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Tooling: Tunnel Gates for Processors, Part 2
What you need to know to overcome problems out on the production floor.
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Injection Molding: Melting Amorphous vs. Semi-Crystalline Plastics
Understanding the differences in how each melts is crucial to obtaining melt uniformity.
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A Processor’s Most Important Job, Part 2: Crystallinity
Process conditions help determine the difference between the maximum degree of crystallinity that can be achieved in a polymer and the degree that is present in a molded part.
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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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