Technical Training on Plastics and Tooling

Robust Molding Processes: Achieving Consistent Results

Master the principles of a robust molding process to ensure part-to-part consistency, run-to-run consistency, and reliable tool consistency. This training delves into the core elements that drive high-quality plastic production.

Plastics Raw Materials: A Comprehensive Guide

Explore the world of plastics raw materials, starting with the family of polymers. Gain a clear understanding of commodity plastics, engineering plastics, and specialty plastics. Learn about the polymer pyramid and the properties and behaviors of amorphous and semi-crystalline plastics.

Polymer Selection for Optimal Performance

Make informed decisions about plastics raw material selection based on specific application needs. We cover critical factors like flammability, chemical resistance, thermal performance, outdoor weathering, water contact, and more. Understand how to choose the right polymer grade for demanding environments.

Advanced Plastics Raw Material Knowledge

Deepen your understanding of homopolymers, blends, and copolymers. Learn to interpret polymer datasheets effectively, extracting key properties and specifications.

Injection Molding Machines: Operation and Selection

Gain a detailed introduction to plastic manufacturing processes, with a focus on injection molding machines. Explore the function of the injection molding machine screw, the heating principle, and common damages to the machine screw. Understand the clamping unit and how to perform crucial clamping calculations. Learn guidelines for molding machine selection to meet your production requirements.

Material Preparation: Ensuring Quality Molding

Proper material preparation is essential for successful molding. Learn about raw material storage, transport, mixing, and pre-drying. Understand the importance of pre-drying, considerations for different polymers, the adverse effects of over-drying, and cumulative drying time. Explore various drying methods and equipment. Recognize signs of undried material, moisture absorption facts, and how to perform moisture analysis.

Process Establishment & Optimization

Follow a structured procedure to establish and fine-tune molding processes. Understand fill, pack, and switchover points. Learn about pressure drop in the feed system. Utilize a mold qualification flowchart to ensure optimal performance.

Tool Design: Creating Effective Injection Molds

Explore the different types of injection molds and the critical aspects of tool design. Learn about feed design and sizing, runner balancing, nozzle sizing, cold slug prevention, gate types, and deriving gate size based on material properties. Understand gate positioning and the correlation between runner cross-section and gate type. Learn about cooling systems, thermal stability, and mold insulation. Understand air venting strategies for different polymers and key design tips for engineering plastics.

Troubleshooting Molding Defects

Effectively address common molding defects. This section covers a wide range of issues, including silver streaks, diesel effect, weld lines, pin marks, gate blush, record grooves, flash, shot shot, blisters, jetting, sink marks, warpage, black specks, and scoring. Gain a detailed understanding of molded-in stress, its causes, and solutions. Learn about the nozzle effect on resin, addressing hangouts, and preventing degradation due to injection molding machine nozzles.

Product Design for Manufacturability

Learn the principles of good part design for injection molding. Understand plastic part design principles and guidelines for designing features like ribs and bosses. Apply the correct draft angle and understand the flow length of different polymer grades, dimensional stability, and achievable tolerances.

Application Development: Diverse Polymer Applications

Discover the wide range of polymer applications available. Explore areas such as antistatic, antifog, fire retardant, water management, outdoor, thermally conductive, EMI shielding, painting, plating, medical bio-compactable, lubricating and low friction, aerospace, and more.