Know-How
Your Extruder's Best Friend
That's the melt pump, and its main purpose is to precisely control output to the die.
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Control Flash in Extrusion Blow Molding
Ability to control the adverse effects of flash is critical to success in extrusion blow molding.
Read MoreKnow the Basics of Machine Evaluation, Part I
Ever wonder how many shots are made each day via injection molding?
Read MoreExtrusion & Thermal Properties: Not Just for the Lab Guys
Do you really need to know how thermal properties of polymers affect extrusion?
Read MoreDetermining Maximum Mold Cycle Counts
The first production meeting with my new employer went something like this: “We want you to establish a preventive maintenance program that is based on cycle counts for all our molds.” Before I could launch into an explanation of how best to determine maximum cycle counts, I was hit with this: “So, how many cycles do you think our molds can safely run before we need to clean them?”Leaving my crystal ball at home and unable to get my x-ray vision working, there was no way to answer that question with any accuracy.
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Single-Screw Mixing 101
Almost all processes using a single screw require some degree of mixing, whether it’s just to homogenize regrind with virgin resin or to mix in some color concentrate.
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How to Make the Transition to Electric Presses
Electric injection machines are becoming more and more prevalent, and as they hit the shop floor, you are responsible for making them produce parts with dimensions, appearance, and performance to client specifications.
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How Much Regrind Can You Handle?
Most extrusion operations generate scrap, and in the case of sheet for thermoforming it can exceed 70% of total output.
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How to Size a Machine and Tooling for Industrial Parts
Today’s industrial blow molding machines are highly efficient and predictable and generally can be relied on to produce sophisticated parts from the first shot.
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