best practices
The Effects of Stress on Polymers
Previously we have discussed the effects of temperature and time on the long-term behavior of polymers. Now let's take a look at stress.
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How Backpressure Optimization Affects Melt Preparation
Backpressure is often the least understood of the settings in an injection molding process, even though it can play a significant role in the final quality of the part. Let’s start with understanding what backpressure is and then learn how to optimize it for a given mold.
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What to Know About Your Materials When Choosing a Feeder
Feeder performance is crucial to operating extrusion and compounding lines. And consistent, reliable feeding depends in large part on selecting a feeder compatible with the materials and additives you intend to process. Follow these tips to analyze your feeder requirements.
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How to Configure Your Twin-Screw Barrel Layout
In twin-screw compounding, most engineers recognize the benefits of being able to configure screw elements. Here’s what you need to know about sequencing barrel sections.
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The Impact of Hydraulics on Tool Design -- Part 1 of 2
Get a better understanding of their use, proper sizing, and how the tool design and setup in the machine can impact failures in manufacturing.
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Use Cavity Pressure Measurement to Simplify GMP-Compliant Medical Molding
Cavity-pressure monitoring describes precisely what’s taking place inside the mold, providing a transparent view of the conditions under which a part is created and ensuring conformance with GMP and ISO 13485 in medical injection molding.
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How Important is Minimizing Residence Time in Injection Molding?
Does a focus on the concept of “minimum residence time” distract attention from areas of injection molding that have more of a direct impact on melt quality?
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Troubleshooting Leaky Temperature-Control Units
Learn the causes, symptoms and remedies for TCU leaks to keep these vital contributors to plastics processing up and running longer and more efficiently.
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The Path to Pellet Perfection
In underwater pelletizing, numerous variables in the equipment, process and material affect pellet shape, consistency and quality factors such as fines. Defining the “perfect” pellet depends on the conditions of end use, and achieving that ideal requires understanding of the causes of imperfections.
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How to Select the Right Tool Steel for Mold Cavities
With cavity steel or alloy selection there are many variables that can dictate the best option.
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