by Matt Proske, vice president SIGMA Plastic Services, Inc. Improving mechanical properties and/or weight reduction requires finding ways to improve stiffness while reducing weight. Fiber-filled polymer materials have been the number one choice to accomplish these goals, but the transition has not been easy or straightforward. The primary challenge has been that increasing … [Read more...] about Advanced Injection Molding Simulation of Fiber-Filled Materials
Process Improvement
Compounding the Purge: Getting the Most out of Color and Resin Changeovers
by Brittany Willes, contributing editor, Plastics Business . Click Thumbnails to View For molders, purging refers to the process of removing traces of old material and contaminants from molding equipment. With a plethora of purging compounds to work with, which compound is most efficient when it comes to color and resin changeovers? What are the benefits of … [Read more...] about Compounding the Purge: Getting the Most out of Color and Resin Changeovers
Opportunities for Energy Efficiency in the Plastics Molding Facility
by Michael L. Stowe, P.E., senior energy engineer, Advanced Energy . " title="Efficient energy consumption can greatly increase profitability."> Efficient energy consumption can greatly increase profitability. . " title="Figure 1. Typical single screw plastic extruder "> Figure 1. Typical single screw plastic extruder . " title="Figure 2. … [Read more...] about Opportunities for Energy Efficiency in the Plastics Molding Facility
4 Variables, 7 Questions: How to Determine What Changed in Your Process
by Chris Nomura, consultant/trainer RJG, Inc. Anyone who has been through RJG training is familiar with the concept of the Four Plastics Variables. The Four Plastics Variables (4PVs) are a way of breaking the process down into four components to help understand what is actually affecting part quality, separate from machine settings. Our natural inclination is to look at … [Read more...] about 4 Variables, 7 Questions: How to Determine What Changed in Your Process
What’s the Deal with Short Shots?
by Shane Vandekerkhof, consultant/trainer, RJG, Inc. When we ask customers what their most pressing quality issues are, short shots or non-filled parts are inevitably on the list. So why don't we start by defining a short shot. A short shot is when a plastic part does not completely fill out. A portion of it is missing. A few issues can cause shorts, and the fix is not always … [Read more...] about What’s the Deal with Short Shots?