CoorsTek, Indo-MIM, Kl?ger Spritzguss, MICRO, Morgan Advanced M – Talented India - micro molding companies

In this collection of articles, two of the industry’s foremost authorities on screw design — Jim Frankand and Mark Spalding — offer their sage advice on screw design...what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for when things start going wrong.

A collaboration between show organizer PLASTICS, recycler CPR and size reduction experts WEIMA and Conair recovered and recycled all production scrap at NPE2024.

Say “manufacturing automation” and thoughts immediately go to the shop floor and specialized production equipment, robotics and material handling systems. But there is another realm of possible automation — the front office.

In this three-part collection, veteran molder and moldmaker Jim Fattori brings to bear his 40+ years of on-the-job experience and provides molders his “from the trenches” perspective on on the why, where and how of venting injection molds. Take the trial-and-error out of the molding venting process.

If all this isn’t confusing enough, it turns out that the coefficient of thermal expansion for tool steel really isn’t a fixed value. The value increases as the steel temperature increases. How do you account for that?

The orifice diameter and molding material were the predominant factors in determining which type of metal to use for the hot-sprue tip, and how much land length was needed to obtain the ideal solidification rate to achieve the fastest possible cycle.

technotrans says climate protection, energy efficiency and customization will be key discussion topics at PTXPO as it displays its protemp flow 6 ultrasonic eco and the teco cs 90t 9.1 TCUs.

Mike Sepe has authored more than 25 ANTEC papers and more than 250 articles illustrating the importance of this interdisciplanary approach. In this collection, we present some of his best work during the years he has been contributing for Plastics Technology Magazine.

Second quarter started with price hikes in PE and the four volume engineering resins, but relatively stable pricing was largely expected by the quarter’s end.

Resin drying is a crucial, but often-misunderstood area. This collection includes details on why and what you need to dry, how to specify a dryer, and best practices.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves.

Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.

In a time where sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, the food and beverage packaging industry is required to be at the forefront of this innovation. By adopting circular packaging processes and solutions, producers can meet regulatory requirements while also satisfying consumer demand and enhancing brand reputation. Join Husky to learn more about the broader implications of the circular economy — as well as how leading brands are leveraging this opportunity to reduce costs, increase design flexibility and boost product differentiation. Agenda: The cost and operational benefits of embracing circularity Key materials in circular packaging — including rPET and emerging bioplastics How to design a circular food and beverage package Strategies for selecting sustainable closures to future-proof packaging solutions Optimization and streamlining of production processes for enhanced efficiency How Husky Technologies can enable your sustainable success

Mold maintenance is critical, and with this collection of content we’ve bundled some of the very best advice we’ve published on repairing, maintaining, evaluating and even hanging molds on injection molding machines.

Additive technology creates air pockets in film during orientation, cutting down on the amount of resin needed while boosting opacity, mechanical properties and recyclability.

Processors with sustainability goals or mandates have a number of ways to reach their goals. Biopolymers are among them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jim Fattori is a third-generation injection molder with more than 40 years of molding experience. He is the founder of Injection Mold Consulting LLC, and is also a project engineer for a large, multi-plant molder in New Jersey. Contact jim@injectionmoldconsulting.com; injectionmoldconsulting.com.

With some regularity, problems with a thermocouple or a controller can cause the temperature of the hot sprue to increase—sometimes through the roof. These are the most common reasons:

Join KraussMaffei for an insightful webinar designed for industry professionals, engineers and anyone interested in the manufacturing processes of PVC pipes. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the technology behind the production of high-quality PVC pipes: from raw material preparation to final product testing. Agenda: Introduction to PVC extrusion: overview of the basic principles of PVC pipe extrusion — including the process of melting and shaping PVC resin into pipe forms Equipment and machinery: detailed explanation of the key equipment involved — such as extruders, dies and cooling systems — and their roles in the extrusion process Process parameters: insight into the critical process parameters like temperature, pressure and cooling rates that influence the quality and consistency of the final PVC pipes Energy efficiency: examination of ways to save material and energy use when extruding PVC pipe products

The worst reason I’ve heard for not molding a disk is, “We always had the sprue tip sit flush with the parting line.” That’s not a reason; that’s old-school resistance to change. As an old-school guy myself, I can confirm that is the way it was always done, and it was never questioned. Back then, if you molded a disk people would ask what happened.

The aim of this presentation is to guide you through the factors and the numbers that will help you determine if a robot is a smart investment for your application. Agenda:  Why are you considering automation? What problems are you trying to solve? How and why automation can help Crunch the numbers and determine the ROI

Depending on the molding material, that can mean the difference between flashing or hobbing the mold. Using a “generic” expansion coefficient for every type of mold steel is a mistake. These coefficients not only vary from one type of steel to another, they also vary from one supplier to another.

ΔL is the increase in length of the hot sprue at the processing temperature. La is the unsupported length of the hot sprue at ambient temperature; Tp is the processing temperature of the molding material. Ta is the ambient temperature (typically 68 F); α is the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material—typically steel. Ta and La are for the most part, fixed values; α is also a fixed value, but are you using the right one? I checked the coefficients of thermal expansion for various types of steels used in injection molds (see Table 1). They ranged from 6.1 to 7.3 Å~ 10-6 in./in.-.F. The difference between the highest and lowest values is an extremely small number (0.0000012 in./in.-.F), but it’s an important one. If you have a 10-in.-long hot sprue running at 600 F, and your coefficient of thermal expansion is off by just 0.5 Å~ 10-6 in./in.-.F, that’s a difference of 0.003 in.

Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.

Join Engel in exploring the future of battery molding technology. Discover advancements in thermoplastic composites for battery housings, innovative automation solutions and the latest in large-tonnage equipment designed for e-mobility — all with a focus on cost-efficient solutions. Agenda: Learn about cutting-edge thermoplastic composites for durable, sustainable and cost-efficient battery housings Explore advanced automation concepts for efficient and scalable production See the latest large-tonnage equipment and technology innovations for e-mobility solutions

The same formula used to calculate how much the hot sprue will increase in length should also be used for the mold base (Table 2). The amount of thermal expansion is negligible at mold temperatures below 80 F, but higher temperatures are definitely a factor to consider. For example, if you’re running PEEK with a mold temperature of 375 F and the hot sprue is 10 in. long, the mold plates over that distance will grow about 0.021 in. If you don’t take that into consideration, you’re going to mold a disk whether you want one or not.

LS Mtron’s Technical Center in Wood Dale, Ill. will be home to injection molding training by Umberto Catignani of Orbital Plastics Consulting thanks to a new partnership.  Photo Credit: LS Mtron

While the major correction in PP prices was finally underway, generally stable pricing was anticipated for the other four commodity resins.

In this collection, which is part one of a series representing some of John’s finest work, we present you with five articles that we think you will refer to time and again as you look to solve problems, cut cycle times and improve the quality of the parts you mold.

Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.

Resin drying is a crucial, but often-misunderstood area. This collection includes details on why and what you need to dry, how to specify a dryer, and best practices.

Core Technology Molding turned to Mold-Masters E-Multi auxiliary injection unit to help it win a job and dramatically change its process.

Implementing a production monitoring system as the foundation of a ‘smart factory’ is about integrating people with new technology as much as it is about integrating machines and computers. Here are tips from a company that has gone through the process.

Exhibitors and presenters at the plastics show emphasized 3D printing as a complement and aid to more traditional production processes.

Across the show, sustainability ruled in new materials technology, from polyolefins and engineering resins to biobased materials.

Additive technology creates air pockets in film during orientation, cutting down on the amount of resin needed while boosting opacity, mechanical properties and recyclability.

I decided it was time to see if I could get some closure on the matter—or at least present all the arguments for and against, so that mold designers can make an informed decision about which option suits their needs or application best. Not surprisingly, I couldn’t find a single word about this subject on the internet, nor in any of the plastics reference books, seminar handouts, or magazine articles I have collected over the years. So I reached out to several well-respected hot-sprue manufacturers, tool makers, processors and materials company technical representatives for their thoughts. I was amazed how their steadfast opinions on the preferred design, as well as their reasons, varied from one extreme to the other.

This Knowledge Center provides an overview of the considerations needed to understand the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a process cooling system.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released final figures for NPE2024: The Plastics Show (May 6-10; Orlando) that officially make it the largest ever NPE in several key metrics.

Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

If you performed the measurement procedure above, the only thing that can cause a problem is if the processing temperatures change out on the production floor. Unfortunately, the processing temperatures out on the floor almost always differ from what was recommended and designed for.

Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.

Despite price increase nominations going into second quarter, it appeared there was potential for generally flat pricing with the exception of a major downward correction for PP.

Plastics Technology covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. About Us

Sustainability continues to dominate new additives technology, but upping performance is also evident. Most of the new additives have been targeted to commodity resins and particularly polyolefins.

Discover how artifical intelligence is revolutionizing plastics processing. Hear from industry experts on the future impact of AI on your operations and envision a fully interconnected plant.

In this collection of content, we provide expert advice on welding from some of the leading authorities in the field, with tips on such matters as controls, as well as insights on how to solve common problems in welding.

While the melting process does not provide perfect mixing, this study shows that mixing is indeed initiated during melting.

Join Wittmann for an engaging webinar on the transformative impact of manufacturing execution systems (MES) in the plastic injection molding industry. Discover how MES enhances production efficiency, quality control and real-time monitoring while also reducing downtime. It will explore the integration of MES with existing systems, emphasizing compliance and traceability for automotive and medical sectors. Learn about the latest advancements in IoT and AI technologies and how they drive innovation and continuous improvement in MES. Agenda: Overview of MES benefits What is MES? Definition, role and brief history Historical perspective and evolution Longevity and analytics Connectivity: importance, standards and integration Advantages of MES: efficiency, real-time data, traceability and cost savings Emerging technologies: IoT and AI in MES

In a time where sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, the food and beverage packaging industry is required to be at the forefront of this innovation. By adopting circular packaging processes and solutions, producers can meet regulatory requirements while also satisfying consumer demand and enhancing brand reputation. Join Husky to learn more about the broader implications of the circular economy — as well as how leading brands are leveraging this opportunity to reduce costs, increase design flexibility and boost product differentiation. Agenda: The cost and operational benefits of embracing circularity Key materials in circular packaging — including rPET and emerging bioplastics How to design a circular food and beverage package Strategies for selecting sustainable closures to future-proof packaging solutions Optimization and streamlining of production processes for enhanced efficiency How Husky Technologies can enable your sustainable success

A difference of opinion regarding a particular mold-design preference came up again recently. The conundrum was whether to intentionally leave a space or gap between the end of a hot sprue and the parting line of a cold-runner, two-plate mold. I’m not talking about the space required to compensate for linear thermal expansion. I’m referring to an additional space to mold a thin disk of plastic, about 0.005 to 0.050 in. thick, between the two surfaces.

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

Exhibitors and presenters at the plastics show emphasized 3D printing as a complement and aid to more traditional production processes.

Join this webinar to explore the transformative benefits of retrofitting your existing injection molding machines (IMMs). Engel will guide you through upgrading your equipment to enhance monitoring, control and adaptability — all while integrating digital technologies. You'll learn about the latest trends in IMM retrofitting (including Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits) and discover how to future-proof your machines for a competitive edge. With insights from industry experts, it'll walk you through the decision-making process, ensuring you make informed choices that drive your business forward. Agenda: Maximize the value of your current IMMs through strategic retrofitting Learn how to integrate digital technologies to enhance monitoring and control Explore the benefits of Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits Understand how retrofitting can help meet new product demands and improve adaptability Discover how Engel can support your retrofitting needs, from free consultations to execution

LS Mtron Injection Molding Machines USA (Peachtree Corners, Ga.), the U.S. subsidiary of the Korean machine supplier, has announced a partnership with Orbital Plastics Consulting (Atlanta)  to provide scientific injection molding training. The hands-on courses will be taught by Umberto Catignani, president of Orbital Plastics Consulting, and take place at LS Mtron’s Technical Center in Wood Dale, Ill.

August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.

This month’s resin pricing report includes PT’s quarterly check-in on select engineering resins, including nylon 6 and 66.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO.

Join KraussMaffei for an insightful webinar designed for industry professionals, engineers and anyone interested in the manufacturing processes of PVC pipes. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the technology behind the production of high-quality PVC pipes: from raw material preparation to final product testing. Agenda: Introduction to PVC extrusion: overview of the basic principles of PVC pipe extrusion — including the process of melting and shaping PVC resin into pipe forms Equipment and machinery: detailed explanation of the key equipment involved — such as extruders, dies and cooling systems — and their roles in the extrusion process Process parameters: insight into the critical process parameters like temperature, pressure and cooling rates that influence the quality and consistency of the final PVC pipes Energy efficiency: examination of ways to save material and energy use when extruding PVC pipe products

Gifted with extraordinary technical know how and an authoritative yet plain English writing style, in this collection of articles Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

While the major correction in PP prices was finally underway, generally stable pricing was anticipated for the other four commodity resins.

In this collection, which is part one of a series representing some of John’s finest work, we present you with five articles that we think you will refer to time and again as you look to solve problems, cut cycle times and improve the quality of the parts you mold.

Plastics Technology covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. About Us

Several people said they like the molded disk because it acts as a cold well to catch any solidified material residing in the gate of the hot sprue. I don’t agree. Plastic flows in the path of least resistance.

Across all process types, sustainability was a big theme at NPE2024. But there was plenty to see in automation and artificial intelligence as well.

Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.

There’s a lot of conjecture about just how much heat is or isn’t transferred from the face of the hot sprue to the moving half of the mold when you don’t mold a disk. If the heat transfer is really that important, and sometimes it really is, then the focus should be more on the outside contact or land area of the hot sprue tip—not the face of the tip. If you don’t mold a disk, the face of the tip is only contacting steel for a portion of the molding cycle while the mold is closed. But the land area of the tip is always in contact with the adjoining steel.

Successfully starting or restarting an injection molding machine is less about ticking boxes on a rote checklist and more about individually assessing each processing scenario and its unique variables.

SHCS, there’s a chance the bolt will, over time, fracture from fatigue, and then the hot sprue will blow back. However, this blow-back argument is moot if the hot sprue is retained by a combination flanged and clamp-type locating ring, such as Progressive Components Part LR519. This type of locating ring not only retains the hot sprue, it is fully supported by the fixed platen.

Discover how artifical intelligence is revolutionizing plastics processing. Hear from industry experts on the future impact of AI on your operations and envision a fully interconnected plant.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Join Wittmann for an engaging webinar on the transformative impact of manufacturing execution systems (MES) in the plastic injection molding industry. Discover how MES enhances production efficiency, quality control and real-time monitoring while also reducing downtime. It will explore the integration of MES with existing systems, emphasizing compliance and traceability for automotive and medical sectors. Learn about the latest advancements in IoT and AI technologies and how they drive innovation and continuous improvement in MES. Agenda: Overview of MES benefits What is MES? Definition, role and brief history Historical perspective and evolution Longevity and analytics Connectivity: importance, standards and integration Advantages of MES: efficiency, real-time data, traceability and cost savings Emerging technologies: IoT and AI in MES

Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).

Core Technology Molding turned to Mold-Masters E-Multi auxiliary injection unit to help it win a job and dramatically change its process.

Join Engel in exploring the future of battery molding technology. Discover advancements in thermoplastic composites for battery housings, innovative automation solutions and the latest in large-tonnage equipment designed for e-mobility — all with a focus on cost-efficient solutions. Agenda: Learn about cutting-edge thermoplastic composites for durable, sustainable and cost-efficient battery housings Explore advanced automation concepts for efficient and scalable production See the latest large-tonnage equipment and technology innovations for e-mobility solutions

Second-ever PTXPO will feature a robust education program on flexible film, with more technical programming in the works.

Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves.

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.

Second quarter started with price hikes in PE and the four volume engineering resins, but relatively stable pricing was largely expected by the quarter’s end.

So far, I’ve given you several good reasons to mold a disk, and very few to have the hot sprue “kiss-off” against the B-plate. Now let’s discuss what happens to the process with and without a disk. Some people say that if you don’t mold a disk, the face of the hot sprue will contact the B-plate, which will suck the heat out and change the intended heat profile. To some extent, that’s true; but, depending on the mold, having the heat sucked out of the face of a hot sprue can either be a good thing or a bad thing.

Because of this investigation into whether to mold a thin disk, I have reversed my old-school opinion. In all but the most extreme cases, the amount of heat loss from a hot-sprue tip to the moving half of the mold is probably not much of a controlling factor. Therefore, I now suggest intentionally molding a disk with a thickness of roughly 25% of the wall thickness of the part. But don’t forget to maximize the land or bearing length of the hot-sprue tip and pay particular attention to the cooling channels near or around the tip. This way, you prevent damage to the parting line of the mold caused by a variety of potential issues, and you maintain the ability to adjust the gate solidification rate by varying the tip’s land length and cooling temperature to prevent cold slugs or strings.

Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.

In this collection of content, we provide expert advice on welding from some of the leading authorities in the field, with tips on such matters as controls, as well as insights on how to solve common problems in welding.

When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.

Mike Sepe has authored more than 25 ANTEC papers and more than 250 articles illustrating the importance of this interdisciplanary approach. In this collection, we present some of his best work during the years he has been contributing for Plastics Technology Magazine.

Plastics Technology’s Tech Days is back! Every Tuesday in October, a series of five online presentations will be given by industry supplier around the following topics:  Injection Molding — New Technologies, Efficiencies Film Extrusion — New Technologies, Efficiencies Upstream/Downstream Operations Injection Molding — Sustainability Extrusion — Compounding Coming out of NPE2024, PT identified a variety of topics, technologies and trends that are driving and shaping the evolution of plastic products manufacturing — from recycling/recyclability and energy optimization to AI-based process control and automation implementation. PT Tech Days is designed to provide a robust, curated, accessible platform through which plastics professionals can explore these trends, have direct access to subject-matter experts and develop strategies for applying solutions in their operations.

A vital secondary function of sprue pullers is to act as a cold well to trap solidified material left in the machine-nozzle tip.

After successfully introducing a combined conference for moldmakers and injection molders in 2022, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology are once again joining forces for a tooling/molding two-for-one.

We also varied the amount of outside contact of each of those tips. The goal was to get the fastest gatefreeze time to minimize the cycle, but not too fast, which would create cold slugs or cause the mold to be difficult to start up. If the gate-freeze time was too long, it would extend the cycle, or cause stringing. The diameter of the gate orifice was a fixed dimension—just large enough to keep the injection pressures at a reasonable value for the given wall thickness and flow length.

Lastly, kudos to those of you who realize that much of what I said here about hot sprues feeding a cold runner in a two-plate mold also applies to a hot sprue in a three-plate mold, and to molds with various other types of hot-feed systems.

Say “manufacturing automation” and thoughts immediately go to the shop floor and specialized production equipment, robotics and material handling systems. But there is another realm of possible automation — the front office.

This month’s resin pricing report includes PT’s quarterly check-in on select engineering resins, including nylon 6 and 66.

Successfully starting or restarting an injection molding machine is less about ticking boxes on a rote checklist and more about individually assessing each processing scenario and its unique variables.

All molding materials have an acceptable melt-temperature range, as specified by the manufacturer. That range can be as much as 50° F or more. It’s not uncommon for a processor to exceed these upper and lower specified temperature limits in order to fill out the cavities or improve the aesthetics or dimensions of a part. It’s called “processing around” a part- or mold-design issue. Table 3 shows that unless you have a fairly long hot sprue and a fairly high temperature deviation, the hot sprue really doesn’t expand as much as you might think.

Unless the disk is very thick, or the material has a very low viscosity, the initial flow of material is going to go right into the wide-open runner—not into a thin disk. In fact, the disk is probably not going to even fill out until the material flow reaches the restrictive gates and the pressure starts to build. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely that a molded disk acts as an effective cold well.

You may not want to mold a disk if the cycle time is fairly fast, the gate orifice is relatively large, or the material is a type that likes to string, such as ABS. The additional heat transfer helps reduce the damaging strings from forming by increasing the solidification rate. It’s the exact reason some molds are designed with water-cooled bushings around a hot-sprue tip.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released final figures for NPE2024: The Plastics Show (May 6-10; Orlando) that officially make it the largest ever NPE in several key metrics.

Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.

A less common reason for temperature override is the quality of the controller itself. I once started up six brand-new hot-runner molds with six brand-new controllers. When we turned the controller on for the first mold, all the zones shot right past their setpoints. The same thing happened to the second mold, and the third, and so on for all six molds. It turned out that a blown-film extruder in an adjoining room had a very large DC motor on the same power line. It was spewing out a massive amount of electrical noise, which affected all the controllers. It took an oscilloscope and a very savvy tech-service rep to solve that one.

However, a disk will function as a “flash trap.” That is a thin web of material, usually added down the sides of a runner to prevent flashing. The thin web solidifies prior to the melt-delivery system reaching significant pressure. Therefore, a thin molded disk will help prevent the surrounding area from getting damaged by flash. Another good reason for molding a disk.

Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.

After successfully introducing a combined conference for moldmakers and injection molders in 2022, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology are once again joining forces for a tooling/molding two-for-one.

August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.

Courses being offered include both injection molding training at LS Mtron’s Technical Center, and onsite injection molding training at LS Mtron customer locations. Peter Gardner, business director of LS Mtron USA, said his company is offering Orbital’s training as part of new machine sales, with all new LS Mtron machine sales in 2022 eligible to register for a free seat at one of the upcoming Wood Dale seminars. Those lectures include: Courses for Fundamentals of Scientific Injection Molding: Hands-on, Setup, Processing, & Troubleshooting (March 1-3, June 7-9, and December 12-14) and Thermoplastic Part Design, Part Defects & Scientific Injection Molding (September 13–14). Orbital recently moved its test molds to LS Mtron’s Technical Center.

Making something out of (almost) nothing is an ‘eye opener’ for youngsters in their first exposure to plastics processing.

In fact, for sprues with large orifices, I prefer a shorter nozzle body with an extended nozzle tip, specifically to increase the land length. It’s a steel-safe condition that can easily be reduced if there’s an issue. I once helped tweak the process of a high-volume mold running a very fast cycle. Every second meant tens of thousands of dollars per year. We tested tips out of H-13 steel, 420 stainless, and BeCu alloy.

This Knowledge Center provides an overview of the considerations needed to understand the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a process cooling system.

Not molding a disk increases the rate of heat being sucked out of the hot-sprue tip and should reduce the risk of stringing. Conversely, you may want to mold a disk if the cycle time is fairly slow, the gate orifice is relatively small, or the material is the type that sets up fast, like crystalline nylon. Not molding a disk could suck out too much heat and can cause a cold slug to form behind the gate. Cold slugs require a tremendous amount of pressure to dislodge at the start of injection. I’m sure you’ve all heard a loud popping sound or felt the injection carriage shake when that happens. To make matters worse, this cold slug needs to get trapped by a cold well or runner overflow before it makes its way to the cavity. Molding a disk will reduce the rate of heat being sucked out of the hot sprue tip. This should reduce the risk of forming a cold slug.

In this three-part collection, veteran molder and moldmaker Jim Fattori brings to bear his 40+ years of on-the-job experience and provides molders his “from the trenches” perspective on on the why, where and how of venting injection molds. Take the trial-and-error out of the molding venting process.

Instead of pulling your hair out trying to calculate the perfect amount of linear thermal expansion, the easiest way to deal with the problem is to heat the sprue, and if necessary, the mold base, up to the processing temperatures. Measure the distance between the face of the sprue and the parting line and adjust  accordingly. That will get you very close to being “spot on” without all the mathematical hassle.

Unless the calculation for linear thermal expansion is off, a hot sprue shouldn't extend beyond the parting line. Calculating that thermal-expansion value is a lot easier said than done. In fact, the chances of being “spot on” are pretty slim. In order to get precisely where you need to be, adjustments typically need to be made when assembling the mold, as well as after the initial try-out.

One argument against molding a disk is the increased chance of the injection pressure causing the hot sprue to “blow back.” Most hot sprues have a standard 1-in. diam. If the peak injection pressure was, for the sake of argument, 14,000 psi of plastic pressure, there will be 11,000 psi trying to push the hot sprue toward the fixed platen. If the molding machine is small and has an associated small amount of nozzle-touch force, there’s a chance the hot sprue will in fact blow back. If the hot sprue is retained by a 1/4-20

In this collection of articles, two of the industry’s foremost authorities on screw design — Jim Frankand and Mark Spalding — offer their sage advice on screw design...what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for when things start going wrong.

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

Join this webinar to explore the transformative benefits of retrofitting your existing injection molding machines (IMMs). Engel will guide you through upgrading your equipment to enhance monitoring, control and adaptability — all while integrating digital technologies. You'll learn about the latest trends in IMM retrofitting (including Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits) and discover how to future-proof your machines for a competitive edge. With insights from industry experts, it'll walk you through the decision-making process, ensuring you make informed choices that drive your business forward. Agenda: Maximize the value of your current IMMs through strategic retrofitting Learn how to integrate digital technologies to enhance monitoring and control Explore the benefits of Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits Understand how retrofitting can help meet new product demands and improve adaptability Discover how Engel can support your retrofitting needs, from free consultations to execution

Across all process types, sustainability was a big theme at NPE2024. But there was plenty to see in automation and artificial intelligence as well.

Having a hot sprue shut off against the parting line versus intentionally molding a thin disk has been the subject of controversy for many years.

technotrans says climate protection, energy efficiency and customization will be key discussion topics at PTXPO as it displays its protemp flow 6 ultrasonic eco and the teco cs 90t 9.1 TCUs.

Across the show, sustainability ruled in new materials technology, from polyolefins and engineering resins to biobased materials.

When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.

Table 4 shows that the amount of possible contact area on the side of a hot-sprue tip can be considerably less or considerably more than that of the face of the tip. The amount of land length in the mold, as specified by hot-sprue manufacturers, varies tremendously. I like to hedge my bets and often increase the land length as much as possible.

The machine supplier and plastics consultancy will provide hands-on courses taught by Orbital’s Umberto Catignani that take place at LS Mtron’s Technical Center near Chicago.

Sustainability continues to dominate new additives technology, but upping performance is also evident. Most of the new additives have been targeted to commodity resins and particularly polyolefins.

Gifted with extraordinary technical know how and an authoritative yet plain English writing style, in this collection of articles Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

Plastics Technology’s Tech Days is back! Every Tuesday in October, a series of five online presentations will be given by industry supplier around the following topics:  Injection Molding — New Technologies, Efficiencies Film Extrusion — New Technologies, Efficiencies Upstream/Downstream Operations Injection Molding — Sustainability Extrusion — Compounding Coming out of NPE2024, PT identified a variety of topics, technologies and trends that are driving and shaping the evolution of plastic products manufacturing — from recycling/recyclability and energy optimization to AI-based process control and automation implementation. PT Tech Days is designed to provide a robust, curated, accessible platform through which plastics professionals can explore these trends, have direct access to subject-matter experts and develop strategies for applying solutions in their operations.

Processors with sustainability goals or mandates have a number of ways to reach their goals. Biopolymers are among them.

Mold maintenance is critical, and with this collection of content we’ve bundled some of the very best advice we’ve published on repairing, maintaining, evaluating and even hanging molds on injection molding machines.

Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).

The aim of this presentation is to guide you through the factors and the numbers that will help you determine if a robot is a smart investment for your application. Agenda:  Why are you considering automation? What problems are you trying to solve? How and why automation can help Crunch the numbers and determine the ROI

Probably the best argument for leaving a gap and molding a thin disk is that it guarantees the hot sprue will never extend beyond the parting line of the fixed half of the mold. If it did, the face of the hot sprue would quickly hob the moving side. It was also reported that if the tip extends too far, the repetitive impact against the moving half of the mold can cause the tip to slowly unscrew—making the damage that much more severe and often cause the tip to crack near the notch-sensitive threads. That makes sense, considering the threads of a hot-sprue tip are coated with an anti-seize lubricant, as opposed to an anaerobic adhesive, such as Loctite. Those are both very good reasons for wanting to mold a disk.

While the melting process does not provide perfect mixing, this study shows that mixing is indeed initiated during melting.

Despite price increase nominations going into second quarter, it appeared there was potential for generally flat pricing with the exception of a major downward correction for PP.

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