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.

Under terms announced in December, Nissha planned to take a majority stake in Isometric Intermediate LLC., which owns the Isometric group of companies. Other financial terms have not been disclosed.

3D printing can make “impossible” parts like these gear shafts with a metal bearing inside. The gear, toothed pulley, and shaft are one plastic part that was built around the bearing instead of manufactured separately.

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.

Isometric Micro Molding said in a LinkedIn post of its own that by “being part of a global CDMO that provides design, development, and manufacturing of minimally invasive medical devices, Isometric is addressing a growing need for visualization and navigation technologies. Isometric will be a platform for growth under Nissha Medical Technologies. Building on our significant micro-focused service offerings and our newly combined capabilities, we will continue to create and advance miniaturization solutions on a global scale.”

There are growing signs that injection molders need to watch their backs. Innovative start-up companies are emerging with large “farms” of 3D printers organized to compete with injection molding for orders of 10,000, 20,000, or even 100,000 parts. We reported in a September 2017 Close-Up on one example of this new type of competition, Voodoo Manufacturing in Brooklyn, N.Y. That article brought a response from a similar new venture, clear across the country. We were contacted by Gabe Bentz, president and founder of Slant Concepts in Nampa, Idaho. His mechanical design and engineering firm had spun off a second venture in October 2016, called Slant 3D, devoted to custom 3D printing in small to medium volumes. He claims it can produce parts that are less expensive than injection molding in volumes under 10,000 parts and reasonably competitive in price at up to 20,000 parts (see accompanying chart).

DeviceTalks is a conversation among medical technology leaders. It's events, podcasts, webinars and one-on-one exchanges of ideas & insights.

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.

Gabe Bentz, president and founder of Slant 3D with some of his dozens of custom-designed and built 3D printers that can produce 5000 to 10,000 parts a week.

A year-old company is devoted to large-scale custom 3D printing at prices competitive with injection molding to 20,000 parts.

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.

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.

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“3D printing puts physical products on equal footing with software products in production costs. They can be constantly updated with no large capital expenditures.”

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

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.

They utilize an FDM-type of process in which extruded thermoplastic filaments are deposited in thin layers. Called the SlantBox, these “commoditized” printers are mounted in racks and all connected to the cloud for maximum productivity. They have a build volume of 10 by 8 by 9 in. and precision of 100 to 300 microns. They are designed to run continuously with much greater reliability than standard 3D printers. “We design them to be assembled and implemented quickly, but also rigid and tough enough to produce 95% good parts,” Bentz says. By addressing typical 3D manufacturing defects stemming from bed inconsistency or nonuniform extrusion rates, Bentz claims his production is more consistent from part to part and throughout an individual part than is commonly found in the market.

But since this part was 3D printed, the gear, pulley, and shaft were combined into a single part. During production, the build would pause to insert the metal bearing. Then the build would continue and the part would be built around the bearing.

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.

“3D printing allows an idea to go from conception to manufacture quickly and much more affordably. There are no tooling costs or lead time. A company wishing to produce a product need only design it and then pay for the raw materials used to produce it. 3D printing puts physical products on equal footing with software products in production costs. Printing allows products to be produced at very low cost and constantly updated with no large capital expenditures.”

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.

Slant 3D’s primary material is PLA, though it also uses ABS and TPU to a lesser extent. Twelve colors are offered at present. His clients include robotics companies, architecture firms, and numerous companies looking for promotional items and prototypes in substantial volumes.

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

Bentz concedes that surface smoothness is one area in which injection molding has an advantage over most 3D printing. Because 3D printed parts are typically produced in a sequence of layers, they can be weaker in the Z-direction than injection molded parts.

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

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.

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

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

Isometric Micro Molding CEO Donna Bibber and President Wayne Shakal purchased the medtech supplier in 2021. New Richmond, Wisconsin–based Isometric is an ISO 13485 certified micro-molding service provider with “ultra-precise capabilities with microscopic polymer components and sub-assemblies” for sensors, transdermal patches, life science disposables, sheaths, anchors, capillaries, robotic surgery systems and neurovascular implants.

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

Comparison of injection molding and 3D printing costs. It is assumed that the injection mold costs $5000 and the cost per part, exclusive of mold-amortization, is 20¢. Total cost per molded part, including mold amortization declines with volume, while 3D-printed part cost is constant at an assumed 70¢.

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.

Buffalo, New York–based Nissha Medical Technologies (a subsidiary of Kyoto, Japan-based Nissha Co.) is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on minimally invasive surgical instruments and wearable devices.

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.

“We’re excited to add another vertically integrated capability as a global CDMO supporting miniaturization of devices and components,” Nissha Medical Technologies said in a post on LinkedIn. “Adding to our existing capabilities of machining and molding, we continue to focus on visualization and navigation technologies, addressing a growing need in the minimally invasive surgical field.”

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

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

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

According to Bentz, price isn’t the only reason to consider 3D printing. “Traditional manufacturing techniques,” he says, “require high up-front expenses for tooling and long-term, high-volume production of a component to amortize those initial expenses. But if there is a mistake in the product, or the market changes, so that the product must be modified, companies may lose the entire investment in molds and tooling. This high risk also makes entry into high-volume production challenging for small or new businesses.

Bentz will give a talk on 3D printing at Plastics Technology’s Molding 2018 Conference, Feb. 27-Mar. 1 in Long Beach, Calif. A representative of Voodoo Manufacturing will also speak there. Details and registration are at moldingconference.com.

The Medical Device Business Journal. MassDevice is the leading medical device news business journal telling the stories of the devices that save lives.

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

Isometric Micro Molding manufactures miniaturized parts and components for medical devices. [Photo courtesy of Isometric Micro Molding]

Israeli startup Largix has developed a production solution that can 3D print PP and PE without melting them. Its first test? Custom tanks for chemical storage.

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.

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

But few have pursued this technology as a means of commercial production of custom parts. For the most part, injection molders have left that field open to companies specializing in low-volume, high-value parts for aerospace and medical uses.

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.

Spectrum Plastics Group offers customers two technology hubs — one for extrusion, the other for additive manufacturing — to help bring ground-breaking products to market faster.

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.

“This marks a significant milestone in my career, and I look forward to leading Isometric towards even greater success,” he said on LinkedIn.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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

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

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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.

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

A growing number of injection molders have adopted 3D printing for prototyping or making conceptual models to present to clients. Some are even making 3D-printed parts for internal use, such as jigs, fixtures, or robot grippers.

Injection molded parts for this assembly would have to be designed to interlock and pull apart so that a bearing could be inserted. In this case, what is now manufactured as a single assembly would have to be split into the gear, toothed pulley, shaft, and metal bearing, all of which would be manufactured separately and then assembled together.

3D printing reduced four parts to two. Manufacturing cost was dramatically reduced because there was no assembly and none of the tooling that would have been required for the three plastic parts combined with the bearing. Slant 3D is using this approach to develop a “fidget spinner” with an internal bearing.

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.

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

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.

However, Slant 3D has produced some structural parts. The key, Bentz notes, is that such parts must be designed specifically for 3D printing, not simply converted from an injection molded design. He adds that 3D printing has advantages for making so-called “impossible” parts. An example is the gear shafts shown in the photo above. They are built around a metal bearing, making the entire assembly effectively a single part.

Before the deal closed, Bibber and Isometric VP of Business Development and Strategy Brent Hahn discussed what the change means for customers in an interview with Medical Design & Outsourcing. That interview also included comments from Nissha Medical Technologies Chief Integration Officer and Chief Supply Chain Officer Jon Casey and Nissha Medical Technologies EVP Brandon Hoffman.

“We are working to make 3D printing a large-scale manufacturing option,” says Bentz. “We are doing this by developing hardware, software, and techniques to allow 3D-printing devices to produce parts in volume.”

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

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.

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.

All that’s necessary is to email Slant 3D a design file, and it can be put into production with little delay. However, Slant 3D also offers design services help get new products ready for production. Slant can do design consultation to judge printability and works with clients to tweak existing designs for optimum printability.

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.

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

Baystar's Borstar technology is helping customers deliver better, more reliable production methods to greenhouse agriculture.

Slant 3D operates a production printer “farm” with close to 100 printers, a number expected to grow to 500 in the next year or two. Bentz claims capacity to produce 5000 to 10,000 parts a week. His printers are self-manufactured to the firm’s own design.

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.

What’s more, he notes, his printers are fully automated so they can operate 24/7 without human intervention. “We have no need of robotic systems, because our printers remove the parts themselves (free dropped into bins) and are still lower cost to produce than most desktop 3D printer kits.” Bentz expects to begin marketing the SlantBox to others in the near future, at an anticipated price of $1000 to $1500.