processing tips

best practices

The Importance of Melt & Mold Temperature

Molders should realize how significantly process conditions can influence the final properties of the part.

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Hot Runners: A View from the Bottom Up

Addressing hot-runner benefits, improvements, and everyday issues from the perspective of decades of experience with probably every brand on the market. Part 1 of 2.

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How to Set Barrel Zone Temps in Injection Molding

Start by picking a target melt temperature, and double-check data sheets for the resin supplier’s recommendations. Now for the rest...

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best practices

The Strain Rate Effect

The rate of loading for a plastic material is a key component of how we perceive its performance. 

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Biopolymers

Why (and What) You Need to Dry

Other than polyolefins, almost every other polymer exhibits some level of polarity and therefore can absorb a certain amount of moisture from the atmosphere. Here’s a look at some of these materials, and what needs to be done to dry them.

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best practices

Understanding Intensification Ratio

A first step in taking the “art” out of molding.

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Tunnel Gates for Mold Designers, Part 1

Of all the gate types, tunnel gates are the most misunderstood. Here’s what you need to know to choose the best design for your application.

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Materials

The Effects of Temperature

The polymers we work with follow the same principles as the body: the hotter the environment becomes, the less performance we can expect.

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Improve Quality & Productivity With Advanced Screw Design

Most molders are still running with screw designs that haven’t changed much in 30 years. But they don’t need to.  

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Solve Four Common Problems in PET Stretch-Blow Molding

Here’s a quick guide to fixing four nettlesome problems in processing PET bottles.

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