Extrusion Know How
The Scale-Up Conundrum
There are many methods used to determine scale-up based on output, but most designers do not scale the melting requirement along with the output.
Read More
Understanding Screw Breakage
You might think you're over-torquing the screw, but more often than not bending is the reason.
Read More
Extrusion: Where's the Data? The Importance of Melt Strength in Extrusion
All extrusion processes depend to some degree on the melt strength of the polymer, and this property is generally a no-show on data sheets.
Read More
The Cause of Catastrophic Screw Wear
Erratic feeding can be the culprit. This is not uncommon when dealing with recycled material.
Read MoreThe Limits Of Compression Ratio
Don't rely just on this value during the screw design process.
Read More
Cooling Tips for Crystalline Polymers
If a little cooling is good, is a lot of cooling better?
Read More
The Evolving Barrier Screw
There has been a gradual transition from the earlier Maillefer designs used in Europe to the Dray/Lawrence design using the parallel barrier design with an increased helix angle to accommodate wider channels.
Read MoreWhy I Still Like Analog Meters
They may not look as slick as their digital cousins, but I find them more helpful in identifying and troubleshooting extrusion problems.
Read MoreScrew Design Is a Matter of Balance
In order to achieve a balance between feeding, melting, and pumping it鈥檚 necessary to use proven calculations and/or tested empirical data in the design of each section.
Read More
What Output Should You Expect?
You can get a rough estimate of the potential output if you know the drive horsepower of your machine and the thermal characteristics of one of the materials you鈥檒l be running.
Read More