processing tips
Why—and How—to Baseline Your Extruder
If you don’t baseline your extruder, then how are you going to set realistic expectations for its performance? Here's how to get going.
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Where Does Shear Heating Occur? Here’s How to Find Out
One of the least understood yet most important concepts is viscous dissipation, which is the shearing or stretching of the polymer between the rotating screw and stationary barrel, causing heat to develop in the material.
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Energy Miser: Reducing Compressed-Air Usage
Many manufacturing sites operate on the assumption that compressed air is free. Usage is totally uncontrolled, and open air lines cost real money.
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Look Before You Leap: When Direct Extrusion Makes Sense
The process offers great opportunities to extrude a better product at less cost, but it’s not for everyone. The formulation, product mix, and anticipated volumes must be carefully assessed to determine whether DE is the preferred manufacturing methodology.
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Eight Steps Toward a Seamless Mold Transfer
It’s big news when an OEM decides to move a substantial number of molds from one processing operation (either their own in-house/captive facility or an outsourced molder) to another.
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Screws and Pellets: One Size Does Not Fit All
Screw design, pellet type/size and material behavior are all critical issues to consider to deliver uniform melt to the mold.
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Look Upstream to Avoid ‘GIGO’ Pitfalls in Extrusion
You may think you have a feeding issue when in reality your problem may be upstream.
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Follow These Tips to Select the Right Pelletizer
Start by assessing the status quo, as well as defining future needs. Develop a five-year projection of materials and required capacities. Short-term solutions very often prove to be more expensive and less satisfactory after a period of time. Most of all, know your options.
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Overfeeding Can Cause Surges, Too
Surging can be caused by feed restrictions, as covered in another column, and also by over-feeding or under-melting, discussed here.
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