The capabilities of this tooling material are best illustrated by what customers are doing with it. According to Robinson, they are running nylon, polycarbonate, acetal, PPE alloys, and PPS—even some glass-filled grades—as long as injection temperatures remain below 300 C (572 F). How many shots you can get depends on the material and the part. Robinson said the printed tooling inserts can last for five to 20 parts in nylon or PC, 50 to 100 parts in polyolefins, and up to 700 to 800 shots in acetal. The more complex the geometry, and the thinner the walls, the shorter the tool life.

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

Quantifying the total particle mass of the stratospheric aerosol layers injected by pyroCbs involves the combination of active and passive remote sensing techniques. Each calculation was based on observations 24–48 h after pyroCb cessation, when the stratospheric plume was comprised primarily of residual smoke aerosol rather than ice particles. Visible and infrared imagery from the GOES-16 ABI was examined to confirm that the study region was devoid of cloud contamination. Regional tropopause heights were determined using temperature profiles from local radiosondes. The vertical extent of the plume above the tropopause was constrained using vertical profiles of 532 nm backscatter and linear laser depolarization ratio from the CALIOP.16 The average particle mass density (Mρ) of the stratospheric smoke layer was calculated by

Flynn, L. et al. Performance of the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) products. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 119, 6181–6195 (2014).

Ridley, D. A. et al. Total volcanic stratospheric aerosol optical depths and implications for global climate change. Geophys. Res. Lett. 41, 7763–7769 (2014).

As a closure experiment, radiative transfer calculations were employed to produce simulated AI values from the inputs for the CALIOP-based smoke particle mass estimates, including the range for ε and observed plume depth. AI was simulated using the OMPS method for two UV radiances (330 and 390 nm) computed by the Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (SBDART) model.28 Particulate single scatter albedo and asymmetry parameters were assumed to be 0.9 and 0.6, respectively, with an Angstrom exponent of 1.6.29 This simulation produced AI values of 15–20, which match the pyroCb AI threshold for stratospheric smoke particles, thus reinforcing confidence in the CALIOP-based aerosol particle mass estimates. The simulated AI varies between −10 and +15% when choosing different optical properties relevant for a smoke and ice plume mixture in the UV.

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.

Akagi, S. K. et al. Emission factors for open and domestic biomass burning for use in atmospheric models. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 11, 4039–4072 (2011).

Andersson, S. M. et al. Significant radiative impact of volcanic aerosol in the lowermost stratosphere. Nat. Commun. 6, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8692 (2015).

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.

Long established in injection molding, extrusion and polyurethane reaction process machinery, 184-yr-old KraussMaffei prepares to enter the industrial additive manufacturing market.

The physical particle properties and chemical evolution of pyroCb smoke in the stratosphere remain highly uncertain, as do their optical characteristics and the potential for significant solar dimming effects. PyroCb smoke is comprised primarily of carbonaceous aerosol, with physical and optical properties very different from volcanic plumes comprised of ash and sulfate-based particles. Processing of pyroCb smoke during the lofting process into the stratosphere will change its composition and properties relative to surface or tropospheric smoke plumes. In addition, since pyroCb updrafts begin with strong surface inflow winds in a dry environment, additional aerosol particles such as mineral dust, may also be contributing factors.20,21 Detailed airborne sampling, in combination with ground and spaceborne observations, is therefore essential for improved understanding of pyroCb impacts on chemistry, radiation, secondary particle formation, and dynamic circulation. This research is further motivated by the recent increase in large wildfires observed across many boreal and temperate ecosystems,4,5 which suggests that stratospheric intrusions of smoke aerosol from pyroCbs may also be increasing.

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.

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

Solomon, S. et al. The persistently variable “background” stratospheric aerosol layer and global climate change. Science 333, 866–870 (2011).

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

The horizontal area of the pyroCb plume was constrained using the ultra-violet (UV) AI (dimensionless) retrieved from the Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite (OMPS) Nadir Mapper (NM), which is sensitive to the altitude of light-absorbing aerosols.1 All OMPS pixels along each CALIOP overpass track were examined to derive an AI threshold for stratospheric aerosol presence (AI ≥ 15), which mirrored the value applied to the 2001 Chisholm pyroCb smoke plume.1 By assuming a constant altitude of the stratospheric smoke plume, this AI threshold was applied to identify all pixels that contain stratospheric smoke particles. Integration of each individual pixel area (OMPS pixels are ~50 km × 50 km at nadir) provided the total area of the stratospheric smoke plume. Integration of Mρ over the smoke plume depth and area provided an estimate of the total mass of smoke aerosol injected into the stratosphere by the pyroCb event.

Kasischke, E. S. & Turetsky, M. R. Recent changes in the fire regime across the North American boreal region—spatial and temporal patterns of burning across Canada and Alaska (vol 33, art no L09703, 2006). Geophys. Res. Lett. 33, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006gl026946 (2006).

PyroCb cloud tops are characterized by relatively small particles induced by significant smoke aerosol loading and the concomitant seeding/nucleation from ambient water vapor.14,15 The relative reduction in cloud particle size compared with more typical regional thunderstorms causes an unusually large solar reflection by pyroCb cloud tops in the GOES shortwave infrared channel (4 µm). This characteristic is used to distinguish the pyroCb clouds in Fig. 2 through subtraction of the 11 µm thermal infrared brightness temperature from that at 4 µm. This brightness temperature difference (BTD) highlights the pyroCb clouds, and reveals that the four Canadian pyroCbs dominated the event. The Canadian pyroCbs also exhibited the lowest observed 11 µm cloud top brightness temperatures (below −60 °C, not evident in Fig. 2), indicating relatively stronger convective updrafts. Relating these cloud-top brightness temperatures to height using local thermodynamic profiles from radiosondes (weather balloons) reveals that these cold cloud tops reached altitudes of 11.5–12.5 km, which exceeded the local cold-point tropopause. Each of the four Canadian pyroCbs contributed an estimated 0.03–0.08 Tg to the initial total particle mass (0.1–0.3 Tg), which is roughly comparable to experiencing four Chisholm pyroCb events on a single afternoon (Fig. 1).

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

where β is the average CALIOP Level 1 backscatter (units of m−1 sr−1), R is an assumed particulate extinction-to-backscatter lidar ratio (units of sr), and ε is the particle mass extinction coefficient (units of m2 g−1).

The CALIOP data that support the findings of this study are available from https://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/project/calipso/calipso_table. OMPS data are available from https://ozoneaq.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/omps/. GOES satellite data are available from NOAA CLASS archive https://class.noaa.gov. Imagery products based on GOES data, including the pyroCb detection product, are posted in near-real-time on the Naval Research Laboratory’s pyroCb website: http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/pyrocb-bin/pyrocb.cgi. The standard MODIS fire products (MOD14) can be obtained from https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/dataset_discovery/modis/modis_products_table/mod14_v006. Derived stratospheric mass estimates are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Here, we quantify the mass of smoke aerosol particles injected into the lower stratosphere from five near-simultaneous intense pyroCbs observed in western North America on 12 August 2017, referred to hereafter as the “Pacific Northwest Event”. Systematic satellite observations are employed to examine the evolution of the event and to obtain essential input parameters, including the spatial extent and vertical profile of the pyroCb plume within the lower stratosphere. This study establishes an observational benchmark for extreme pyroCbs, with the goal of motivating modeling and in situ study of lower-stratospheric plume composition, chemical and physical particle evolution, and radiative properties that may influence lower-stratospheric chemistry and dynamic circulation on seasonal and hemispheric scales.

If so, you probably would have come away from the recent K 2016 show—as I did—with a very different idea of what can be done with 3D-printed plastic cores and cavities. Stratasys, Eden Prairie, Minn., the leading supplier of 3D printing equipment and materials for this application, devoted its exhibit almost entirely to displays of plastic tooling and parts made from it. The exhibit also featured Stratasys’ new Polyjet J750 printer, which can print up to six different colors or materials at the same time. It does that by dispensing droplets of different colors or materials on top of each other, inkjet style, so they mix before being hardened (crosslinked) by UV light.

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

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.

The stratospheric smoke injection from the Pacific Northwest Event was an order of magnitude larger (0.1 vs. 0.01 Tg) than the most significant single-event stratospheric intrusion of smoke aerosol recorded to date (Fig. 1), associated with multiple pyroCb updrafts (pulses) observed during the Chisholm Fire in Alberta, Canada in 2001.1 The Pacific Northwest Event also likely exceeded the total aerosol particle mass injected by all pyroCb activity (26 events) inventoried during the fire season of 2013 across western North America.7 Details of the extreme fire behavior and pyroCb activity observed during 2013 have been examined previously.3,6 Stratospheric intrusions from each individual pyroCb, such as those associated with the Silver and Pony/Elk fires, were two orders of magnitude lower in total smoke particle mass than the Pacific Northwest Event. However, the cumulative seasonal impact (0.04–0.12 Tg over 3 months) is still comparable to a relatively small volcanic eruption on its own.

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

Yue, G. K., Poole, L. R., Wang, P. H. & Chiou, E. W. Stratospheric aerosol acidity, density, and refractive-index deduced from SAGE-II and NMC temperature data. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 99, 3727–3738 (1994).

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.

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.

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.

Westerling, A. L. Increasing western US forest wildfire activity: sensitivity to changes in the timing of spring (vol 371, 20150178, 2016). Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B 371, https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0373 (2016).

He said “a few hundred” molders and OEMs worldwide are experimenting with printed plastic tooling. One of them, discussed on the company’s website, is Danish pump manufacturer Grundfos, which used digital ABS molds to mold simple parts of 40% glass-filled PPS and more complex parts of 30% glass filled Noryl PPE alloy. The Noryl parts were made in plastic molds with side actions to mold internal and external threads, as well as many ribs.

A time-height analysis of CALIOP relative attenuated molecular scattering ratio averaged over the Northern Hemisphere between 40°N and 80°N shows background values near 1.0 in the lower stratosphere (16–20 km) prior to the Pacific Northwest Event (Fig. 4b). The initial impact of the Pacific Northwest Event is evidenced by its rapid increase above 1.2 from mid-August to early September. Scattering ratios remained higher than background through the middle of December, suggesting that significant levels of smoke remained in the lower stratosphere for approximately 4 months.

Characteristics of the young stratospheric smoke plume. Top panel shows profiles of 532 nm attenuated backscatter (km−1 sr−1) observed by CALIOP on 14 August 2017 for a daytime (ascending) CALIPSO overpass beginning 19:27 UTC. The dashed white line denotes the approximate tropopause altitude. Bottom panel shows near-coincident ultra-violet (UV) aerosol index (AI) observations from OMPS, with the CALIPSO satellite track superimposed in black. The horizontal extent of the stratospheric smoke plume (AI ≥ 15) is displayed in shades of yellow and red

Ricchiazzi, P., Yang, S. R., Gautier, C. & Sowle, D. SBDART: a research and teaching software tool for plane-parallel radiative transfer in the Earth’s atmosphere. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 79, 2101–2114 (1998).

Comparisons with stratospheric particle mass estimates from other significant events. Bars indicate the approximate uncertainty range of stratospheric aerosol particle mass injected. All mass estimates are displayed using a logarithmic scale (x-axis). Color scheme indicates event type and characteristics

Because the plastic molds are poor heat conductors and have no internal cooling, the molding cycle for acetal was 100 sec, and the molds were cooled with air between cycles. Robinson said a university has printed mold inserts with conformal cooling channels and that the results were encouraging.

Kristiansen, N. I. et al. Remote sensing and inverse transport modeling of the Kasatochi eruption sulfur dioxide cloud. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 115, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009jd013286 (2010).

Another customer using printed plastic molds for prototyping is Berker, a German electrical switch maker. As reported in the November Starting Up section of Plastics Technology, Berker molded 25 to 50 parts of ASA, PC, and TPE in these molds.

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.

Coverage of single-use plastics can be both misleading and demoralizing. Here are 10 tips for changing the perception of the plastics industry at your company and in your community.

In the absence of any significant volcanic particle mass reaching the stratosphere between August and December 2017, as well as any additional extreme pyroCb events, the prolonged period of elevated scattering ratios highlighted in Fig. 4b reflects a sustained perturbation of the lower stratospheric aerosol layer from the 12 August Pacific Northwest Event. Similar characteristics were observed following the Kasatochi eruption.10 The Pacific Northwest Event therefore constitutes a stratospheric intrusion similar to a moderate volcano, including total aerosol particle mass initially injected, the nature of its downwind transport, and seasonal persistence.

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.

Chang, D. et al. Comprehensive mapping and characteristic regimes of aerosol effects on the formation and evolution of pyro-convective clouds. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 15, 10325–10348 (2015).

Fromm, M. et al. Stratospheric impact of the Chisholm pyrocumulonimbus eruption: 1. Earth-viewing satellite perspective. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 113, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007jd009153 (2008).

Lindsey, D. T., Miller, S. D. & Grasso, L. The impacts of the 9 April 2009 dust and smoke on convection. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 91, 991–995 (2010).

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

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 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.

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.

Perhaps you have heard that additive manufacturing—a.k.a. 3D printing—can be used to make injection tooling inserts out of plastics—relatively quickly, at relatively low cost, and with little human labor involved.

Peterson, D. A. et al. Detection and inventory of intense pyroconvection in western North America using GOES-15 Daytime Infrared Data. J. Appl. Meteorol. Climatol. 56, 471–493 (2017).

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.

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

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.

Similar to the pyroCb methodology, stratospheric aerosol mass particle estimates for the eruption of Mt. Kasatochi (Alaska, 7–8 August 2008) began with CALIOP observations nearly 48 h after the eruption (at least one complete diurnal cycle). Tropopause heights were determined using temperature profiles from the closest radiosonde observations to the plume. However, several modifications were required. Mass estimates for the initial eruptive plume injection account for two layers of stratospheric aerosol particles observed at 11.5–13 and 15–16 km.11 A range of 0.6–0.8 m2 g−1 was used for ε, based on observations of volcanic plumes within 1–3 days of an eruption.33 The value for R was fixed at 60 sr.34 Initial estimates based on these methods (0.4–0.5 Tg) are consistent with particulate mass estimates retrieved independently from infrared satellite sensors within 48 h of the Kasatochi eruption.35

Plastics processors are finding applications for 3D printing around the plant and across the supply chain. Here are 8 examples to look for at NPE2024.

Calculations of the total smoke particle mass emitted by the fires contributing to pyroCb development were based on burned area observations derived from satellite and airborne observations. The Canadian fires burned 300,000 hectares during 9–16 August 2017 (http://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/report/archives?year=2017&month=08&day=16&process=Submit). The Diamond Creek fire in Washington State burned over 10,000 hectares (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/). Total area burned on 12 August 2017 was estimated at 25–75% of each total, based on the tendency of extreme fire days to dominate total area burned in boreal regions.30 Fuel consumption was estimated in a range of 22–53.2 Mg per hectare, and smoke emissions (PM2.5) per fuel consumed were estimated in a range of 9.4–21.2 g kg−1. 31 Combining these three factors and their associated ranges provided a range of the total dry smoke particle mass released on 12 August (0.02–0.26 Tg).

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).

Vernier, J. P. et al. Tropical stratospheric aerosol layer from CALIPSO lidar observations. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 114, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009jd011946 (2009).

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

Peterson, D. A. et al. The 2013 rim fire implications for predicting extreme fire spread, pyroconvection, and smoke emissions. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 96, 229–247 (2015).

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

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

Fire-triggered thunderstorms, or pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb), are an extreme weather phenomenon associated with large wildfires at temperate latitudes. PyroCbs can release a large quantity of smoke particles into the lower stratosphere, often above the tropopause by several kilometers.1,2 The weather conditions driving pyroCb occurrence,3 along with increasingly active fire seasons,4,5 indicate that pyroCbs are a significant and endemic summertime feature in several regions worldwide. A single fire season in western North America, for instance, can include more than 25 intense single or multi-updraft pyroCb events.6,7 Since the discovery of pyroCb in the early 2000s, several stratospheric aerosol layers first thought to be of volcanic origin have been reclassified as originating from pyroCb activity.2 The significance of volcanic plumes in the lower stratosphere and their role in the climate system has been recognized for several decades. To date, however, the impact of pyroCbs on climate has never been systematically explored, and remains almost completely unquantified in recent studies of the lower stratosphere.8,9,10

Corradini, S., Merucci, L., Prata, A. J. & Piscini, A. Volcanic ash and SO2 in the 2008 Kasatochi eruption: retrievals comparison from different IR satellite sensors. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 115, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009jd013634 (2010).

Weather and fuel conditions consistent with the rapid fire growth observed for these fires are consistent with high fuel consumption and smoke production per area burned, but this effect is poorly quantified. Surface-based estimates were therefore calculated using the full climatological range of fuel consumption and smoke release for fires in the study region. While these emissions factors include some secondary particle production in the plume,32 they exclude coarse particles and sulfate aerosol particles converted from gaseous SO2. Literature estimates indicate these two components together contribute less than 15% to total particulate mass.24,31

Winker, D. M. et al. The CALIPSO mission: a global 3D view of aerosols and clouds. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 91, 1211–1229 (2010).

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

Intense heating by wildfires can generate deep, smoke-infused thunderstorms, known as pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb), which can release a large quantity of smoke particles above jet aircraft cruising altitudes. Injections of pyroCb smoke into the lower stratosphere have gained increasing attention over the past 15 years due to the rapid proliferation of satellite remote sensing tools. Impacts from volcanic eruptions and other troposphere-to-stratosphere exchange processes on stratospheric radiative and chemical equilibrium are well recognized and monitored. However, the role of pyroCb smoke in the climate system has yet to be acknowledged. Here, we show that the mass of smoke aerosol particles injected into the lower stratosphere from five near-simultaneous intense pyroCbs occurring in western North America on 12 August 2017 was comparable to that of a moderate volcanic eruption, and an order of magnitude larger than previous benchmarks for extreme pyroCb activity. The resulting stratospheric plume encircled the Northern Hemisphere over several months. By characterizing this event, we conclude that pyroCb activity, considered as either large singular events, or a full fire season inventory, significantly perturb the lower stratosphere in a manner comparable with infrequent volcanic intrusions.

Flannigan, M. D., Logan, K. A., Amiro, B. D., Skinner, W. R. & Stocks, B. J. Future area burned in Canada. Clim. Change 72, 1–16 (2005).

Nikonovas, T., North, P. R. J. & Doerr, S. H. Particulate emissions from large North American wildfires estimated using a new top-down method. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 17, 6423–6438 (2017).

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.

Giglio, L., Schroeder, W. & Justice, C. O. The collection 6 MODIS active fire detection algorithm and fire products. Remote Sens. Environ. 178, 31–41 (2016).

An expansive thunderstorm outflow anvil cloud, comprised of both smoke and water ice, persisted for nearly 12 h in GOES infrared imagery after cessation of the parent pyroCb updrafts. The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP), flown aboard NASA’s polar-orbiting CALIPSO satellite,16 passed over the decaying cloud shield approximately 8 h after pyroCb cessation (10:45 UTC on 13 August), confirming the injection of smoke and water ice at least 1 km into the stratosphere (not shown). By the afternoon of 14 August (19:30 UTC), ice crystal influence on the CALIOP backscatter profile within the plume had diminished, and a distinct 1.5 km deep residual layer was present over northern Canada (Fig. 3). CALIOP attenuated laser backscatter measurements were converted to smoke particle mass density averages over the two successive orbital passes incident upon the young stratospheric plume at this time, providing an estimated range of 73–220 µg m−3 (see Methods).

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

To be classified as pyroCb, a cloudy pixel must exhibit a thermal infrared (11 µm) brightness temperature below an approximated homogeneous liquid-water freezing threshold,14 which implies a high likelihood of vertical cloud development near the tropopause altitude. Extreme smoke aerosol loading and strong updrafts within a pyroCb induce a discernable microphysical shift (from indirect aerosol effects) toward smaller cloud droplets and ice particles when compared with those of typical convective storms occurring over elevated terrain.15 This effect is resolved from satellite by observing a relatively large daytime near-infrared (4 µm) reflectivity.14 Application of a 4 and 11 µm BTD therefore allows for distinction of pyroCb clouds from traditional convection.7 This methodology relies on reflected sunlight, but captures the overwhelming majority of pyroCb activity, since initiation after sunset is relatively infrequent.2,3 Testing with previous GOES imagers (e.g., GOES-15) has demonstrated the successful detection of individual pyroCb events, pyroCbs embedded within traditional convection, and multiple, short-lived pulses of activity.7 Imagery products based on these methods are posted in near-real-time on the Naval Research Laboratory’s pyroCb website: http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/pyrocb-bin/pyrocb.cgi.

The lower bound of the initial particle mass estimated from CALIOP (0.4 Tg) was also modified to account for potential SO2 to sulfate-based secondary particle formation between the initial injection and the CALIOP observation. Over a single diurnal cycle, we estimate a conversion of 0.1 Tg of SO2 vapor to 0.2 Tg particle mass.12,13 When subtracted, this yields a 0.2 Tg lower bound value for the initial stratospheric injection of Kasatochi. Neither the lower nor upper-bound estimates consider potential particle fallout during this period.

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.

Prata, A. T., Young, S. A., Siems, S. T. & Manton, M. J. Lidar ratios of stratospheric volcanic ash and sulfate aerosols retrieved from CALIOP measurements. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 17, 8599–8618 (2017).

Krotkov, N. A., Schoeberl, M. R., Morris, G. A., Carn, S. & Yang, K. Dispersion and lifetime of the SO2 cloud from the August 2008 Kasatochi eruption. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 115, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010jd013984 (2010).

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.

The horizontal extent of the stratospheric plume was estimated by applying the ultra-violet Aerosol Index (AI, dimensionless) retrieved from Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite (OMPS) Nadir Mapper (NM), flown aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite.17 AI is sensitive to the altitude of the light-absorbing smoke particles that make up pyroCb plumes (e.g., black and brown carbon), with stratospheric layers corresponding to the largest values (e.g., >15–20).1 On 14 August, AI values measured over a large portion of northern Canada exceeded those of any known pyroCb plume on record2 (Fig. 3). Comparison with coincident CALIOP profiling showed that pixels with an AI at or above 15 were consistent with smoke particles in the stratosphere, which mirrors the AI threshold applied to the 2001 Chisholm pyroCb smoke plume1 (Fig. 1). Integration of each individual pixel area coinciding with stratospheric smoke particles yielded an instantaneous plume area of nearly 800,000 km2.

Evolution of the 12 August 2017 Pacific Northwest pyroCb event from satellite. Grayscale shading indicates the thermal infrared (11 µm) brightness temperature (GOES-16), with colder, high-altitude cloud tops displayed in white. Green shading indicates the solar reflectivity of smaller cloud top particles relative to the 11 µm brightness temperature. PyroCb smoke particle perturbations therefore correspond with larger green values. Pink shading indicates all satellite fire detections for the preceding 24 h in native resolution (MODIS). The approximate position of the approaching surface cold front is highlighted in blue

Reid, J. S. et al. Physical, chemical, and optical properties of regional hazes dominated by smoke in Brazil. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 103, 32059–32080 (1998).

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

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

Cruz, M. G. et al. Anatomy of a catastrophic wildfire: The Black Saturday Kilmore East fire in Victoria, Australia. For. Ecol. Manag. 284, 269–285 (2012).

The Kasatochi stratospheric plume of aerosol particles was accompanied by approximately 1.2–2.2 Tg of sulfur dioxide (SO2) vapor mass.11,12 Conversion of this SO2 component (molar mass = 64) to sulfates in the lower stratosphere increases the total particulate mass estimate over the ensuing weeks and months post-eruption.36 To estimate this additional mass, it was assumed that 75% of the SO2 converted to sulfuric acid (molar mass = 98) and 25% to water,13 producing a total accumulated stratospheric particle mass estimate between 2.0 and 3.0 Tg.

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The plume was transported downwind of North America by relatively strong winds associated with the upper-tropospheric jet stream, which also influences the circulation of the lower stratosphere. Figure 4a shows a true color satellite image (GeoColor) from the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) onboard the GOES-16 satellite over eastern North America on 17 August (image used with permission from the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere [CIRA]). Smoke from the Pacific Northwest Event is evident between two mid-latitude cyclones aligned with the upper-tropospheric jet stream, extending from the Canadian Arctic to the Atlantic Ocean, near the coast of Maine and Nova Scotia. This high-altitude plume reached Europe by 19 August, Asia by 24 August, and encircled the entire Northern Hemisphere by 31 August (not shown).

Calvo, A. I. et al. Radiative forcing of haze during a forest fire in Spain. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 115, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009jd012172 (2010).

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3D printing a core and cavity on machine from Gefertec, followed by machining, allowed for a complete mold tool to be produced in three days.

Perhaps you have been skeptical about the capabilities of those molds. Perhaps you have been told—as I was, by one proponent of 3D-printed plastic tooling, that it could be used for “simple” plastics like PE or PP, and for low-volume prototyping of up to around 50 parts.

The calculation of Mp is sensitive to the values of ε and R, which are dependent on the physical and optical properties of smoke particles. While smoke plumes from temperate and boreal forest fires have been extensively studied,23,24 particles lofted by pyroCbs are transported to the stratosphere through an environment of ice phase or possibly mixed-phase condensation. This process will likely alter the effective particle properties significantly from those observed at ground level. The amount of mineral dust lofted within pyroCb plumes and its impact on optical properties also remains unresolved.20,21 An estimated range of 3.0–6.0 m2  g−1 was therefore used for ε, based on the available literature for aged boreal smoke plumes25 and accounting for potential entrainment of mineral dust.26 Similarly, a range of 40–60 sr was used for R to account for a potential mix of smoke particles, water/ice, and mineral dust.27

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

Pyrocumulonimbus—thunderstorms spawned from fire—inject 10× the mass of smoke particles into the upper atmosphere than once thought. When hot enough, wildfires can trigger convective updrafts, the depths of which extend well into the lower stratosphere. David Peterson and colleagues from the Naval Research Laboratory use satellite observations to quantify the impact of pyrocumulonimbus on troposphere-to-stratosphere exchange of smoke aerosols, focusing on five events that occurred in the Pacific Northwest in August 2017. The mass of smoke aerosols injected into the lower stratosphere is estimated to be 0.1–0.3 Tg, an order of magnitude larger than previous assessments, and roughly equal to that expected from a medium-sized volcanic eruption. With observed and projected increases in wildfires, any subsequent intrusions of smoke particles into the stratosphere could have considerable impacts on the global climate.

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.

PyroCb detection for the 2017 Pacific Northwest Event was based on the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) onboard the recently launched GOES-16 satellite. The ABI provides higher spatial resolution and temporal sampling compared with the previous generation of GOES sensors. Close proximity to one or more satellite-based fire detections (within 40–60 km) is the first requirement for pyroCb detection.7 This study is based on the fire products for the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites (MYD14/MOD14, collection 6).22 PyroCb detection was initiated only for areas with MODIS fires detected during a 24-h period preceding each GOES-16 observation.

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

Rosenfeld, D. et al. The Chisholm firestorm: observed microstructure, precipitation and lightning activity of a pyro-cumulonimbus. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 7, 645–659 (2007).

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Vernier, J. P. et al. Major influence of tropical volcanic eruptions on the stratospheric aerosol layer during the last decade. Geophys. Res. Lett. 38, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011gl047563 (2011).

This study provides a unique quantitative analysis of the aerosol particle mass injected into the lower stratosphere by a single extreme pyroCb event, revealing that its impact is comparable in magnitude to the initial stages of a moderate volcanic eruption. The cumulative stratospheric impact from all pyroCb activity observed during the fire season of 2013 in western North America was also significant. These results indicate that pyroCb activity, occurring as either large singular events or smaller events accumulated over a fire season, influence the lower stratosphere in a manner consistent with infrequent volcanic intrusions. Meteorological conditions driving pyroCb development suggest that stratospheric intrusions of smoke particles can be expected every fire season in favored regions of the Northern Hemisphere.3 The expansive stratospheric plume associated with the Australian “Black Saturday” pyroCb event18 (7 February 2009) shows that pyroCbs can also impact the Southern Hemisphere.19 While the community already monitors surface-based and lower tropospheric aerosol and chemical perturbing agents that influence the lower stratosphere, such as volcanic eruptions and halogen compounds, the Pacific Northwest Event demonstrates that pyroCbs also likely play a significant role in the climate system.

Maring, H., Savoie, D. L., Izaguirre, M. A., Custals, L. & Reid, J. S. Mineral dust aerosol size distribution change during atmospheric transport. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 108, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002jd002536 (2003).

Stratospheric relative 532 nm attenuated molecular scattering ratios were derived from CALIOP based on methods described in the available literature.37 Level 1B attenuated 532 nm lidar backscatter (km−1 sr−1) data were aggregated at 1-day intervals for all measurements collected within the lower stratosphere (16–20 km above mean sea level) over the Northern Hemisphere between 40°N and 80°N. Molecular profiles were derived using Goddard Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) Goddard Earth Observing System Model, Version 5 (GEOS-5), meteorological reanalysis thermal profiles included in the CALIOP Level 1 files. The relative attenuated molecular scattering ratio is defined as total attenuated particle backscatter normalized by the corresponding attenuated molecular profile. Ozone is not explicitly defined, however, nor is any coincident aerosol transmission occurring between 20 and 35 km, and thus these profiles are specifically defined as relative. To suppress noise, these data were passed through a Gaussian smoothing filter, the so-called “Von Hann Window”, and rendered at 25 m vertical resolution and 0.05-day temporal resolution using corresponding spatial and temporal half-widths of 375 m and 1.0 days.

Adjustments were required to account for the fully attenuating smoke particle layer of the Pacific Northwest Event. An average smoke plume layer depth of 1.5 km was employed and Mρ was augmented by ~10% (based on increasing β) to account for additional smoke particles between the detection limit and the tropopause altitude. CALIOP backscatter data at 1064 nm (not shown) support this augmentation.

Each pyroCb contributing to the 12 August Pacific Northwest Event was detected by the constellation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) observing North America7 (Fig. 2). The first pyroCb occurred over the Diamond Creek Fire (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5409/) in northern Washington State, United States at 21:00 UTC (14:00 local time [LT]). The four remaining pyroCb were caused by a broad complex of wildfires in British Columbia, Canada, with the second and third pyroCb developing at 23:00 UTC (16:00 LT), the fourth at 00:00 UTC (17:00 LT), and the fifth at 00:30 UTC (17:30 LT). All five pyroCb updrafts were active for 1–4 h over a total 5 h period, which is comparable to the duration of the Kasatochi eruption.11 Estimated stratospheric mass (0.1–0.3 Tg) is higher than the range of estimates for total dry particulate mass derived from the area burned by these fires (0.02–0.26 Tg). However, this latter estimate does not account for the total amount of condensed water mass simultaneously lofted into the stratosphere by each updraft or secondary particle formation within the plume.

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.

Reid, J. S., Koppmann, R., Eck, T. F. & Eleuterio, D. P. A review of biomass burning emissions. Part II: Intensive physical properties of biomass burning particles. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 5, 799–825 (2005).

The stratospheric smoke intrusion from the Pacific Northwest Event was associated with five distinct pyroCb updrafts. Calculations based on the combination of lidar and passive remote sensing observations reveal that this event injected an estimated 0.1–0.3 Tg of total aerosol particle mass into the lower stratosphere (Fig. 1). The Pacific Northwest Event was comparable to the total stratospheric particle mass injected by the initial plume of a moderate volcanic eruption, characterized by a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) between 3 and 4.9,10 The Kasatochi eruption (VEI of 4) in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska (United States, 7–8 August 2008) serves as a suitable reference event, given its proximity in latitude, occurrence during the same month, and injection to similar stratospheric altitudes. Kasatochi yielded an estimated 0.2–0.5 Tg of stratospheric aerosol particle mass during its initial eruptive cycles (see Methods for details). This plume was accompanied by approximately 1.2–2.2 Tg of sulfur dioxide (SO2) vapor mass.11,12 Total accumulated stratospheric particle mass caused by Kasatochi, accounting for the secondary conversion of SO2 to sulfate-based compounds over the weeks and months post-eruption,13 ranged between 2.0 and 3.0 Tg.

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.

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.

D.A.P assembled each data source, designed the experiments, conducted meteorological analyses, and wrote the narrative. J.R.C. provided all lidar data and supported each step of the analysis. E.J.H. provided total smoke mass estimates for relevant fires and supported data interpretation. M.D.F. and G.P.K supported stratospheric aerosol mass calculations for both pyroCb and volcanic plumes. J.H.C. produced GOES-16 satellite imagery and M.T.D. provided and analyzed OMPS aerosol index data.

Turnbull, K. et al. A case study of observations of volcanic ash from the Eyjafjallajokull eruption: 1. In situ airborne observations. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 117, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011jd016688 (2012).

During the preceding days, an intensifying upper-level cyclone and surface cold front approached the west coast of North America. Wildfire behavior in the Pacific Northwest intensified ahead of this disturbance, driven by enhanced southwesterly surface winds and a relatively dry surface air mass, peaking on the afternoon of 12 August (Fig. 2). The approaching storm also induced transport of relatively moist and unstable air from the nearby Pacific Ocean over the dry, deep, and unstable near-surface boundary layer, thus providing a mechanism for large-scale rising motion in the middle and upper troposphere. These combined characteristics are a potent recipe for high-based convection (relatively dry thunderstorms over elevated terrain), which is consistent with a conceptual model for pyroCb development.3 Strong thermal buoyancy induced by the large and intense wildfires sustained smoke column updrafts necessary to penetrate the tropopause, thus providing a direct pathway for smoke aerosols to enter the lower stratosphere. At least two smaller pyroCbs occurred in the same area on 11 August, but they were not as deep as the 12 August Pacific Northwest Event, reinforcing the importance of meteorological contex in supporting deep pyroCb updrafts.

We are grateful to Daniel Lindsey at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Center for Satellite Applications and Research and the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) for providing GOES-16 GeoColor imagery of the stratospheric smoke plume. We also thank Melinda Surratt at the Naval Research Laboratory for assistance with satellite data processing, as well as Daniel Stern (UCAR) and Sam Brand (SAIC) for assistance with editing. This research was performed while D.A.P. held a Karle’s Research Fellowship Award at the Naval Research Laboratory in Monterey, CA. Additional support was provided by ONR32, under award N0001417WX00777. M.T.D. was supported by NASA contract NNG17HP01C.

Stratospheric smoke transport and residence time. Top panel shows true color imagery from the GOES-16 GeoColor Algorithm (developed by CIRA) near sunrise on 17 August 2017 (11:45 UTC). The stratospheric smoke plume extends from Hudson Bay to the northern Atlantic Ocean. Bottom panel provides a time series of CALIOP relative attenuated 532 nm scattering ratio averaged over the Northern Hemisphere between 40°N and 80°N. The gaps in the time series represent CALIOP data outages in early August and mid-September 2017

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.

Peterson, D.A., Campbell, J.R., Hyer, E.J. et al. Wildfire-driven thunderstorms cause a volcano-like stratospheric injection of smoke. npj Clim Atmos Sci 1, 30 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-018-0039-3

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

An inventory of pyroCb activity was developed for western North America using the fire season (June–August) of 2013.7 It contains 26 individual events, comprised of 31 individual pulses of intense pyroCb activity (e.g., separate updrafts/anvil clouds), all of which were capable of injecting smoke particles into the upper troposphere and/or lower stratosphere. A first-order estimate of the stratospheric smoke particle mass injected across the entire inventory was derived based on three pyroCb events that spanned the spectrum of observed activity during 2013. For example, the Pony/Elk Fire in Idaho (United States) on 9 August was a relatively small pyroCb. A wildfire complex in Manitoba, Canada produced a larger pyroCb on 3 July. The Silver Fire in New Mexico (United States) produced three pulses (convective updrafts) of pyroCb activity in rapid succession, and was likely the most extreme event in the sample. Each of these three events produced a stratospheric plume of aerosol particles that was well observed by CALIOP and OMPS from 24 to 48 h after initial injection. Stratospheric particle mass estimates were produced for each case using the same methodology as the 2017 Pacific Northwest Event. The range of mean mass estimates for these three events (based on ε and R) was used as an estimate for the remaining pyroCb events in the inventory. Summation over the full inventory provided the total seasonal stratospheric smoke particle mass injected.

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.

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

Lerach, D. G. & Cotton, W. R. Simulating southwestern US desert dust influences on supercell thunderstorms. Atmos. Res. 204, 78–93 (2018).

Peterson, D. A., Hyer, E. J., Campbell, J. R., Solbrig, J. E. & Fromm, M. D. A conceptual model for development of intense pyrocumulonimbus in western North America. Mon. Weather Rev. 145, 2235–2255 (2017).

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

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

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

Ackermann, J. The extinction-to-backscatter ratio of tropospheric aerosol: a numerical study. J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol. 15, 1043–1050 (1998).

Reid, J. S. et al. A review of biomass burning emissions. Part III: Intensive optical properties of biomass burning particles. Atmos. Chem. Phys. 5, 827–849 (2005).

What I didn’t realize before this was that the “digital ABS” formulation that is most commonly used for printed plastic tooling is not really ABS, but a blend of acrylate photopolymers whose combined properties mimic those of ABS. Stratasys senior application engineer Gil Robinson, from the firm’s Israeli office, explained something else I hadn’t previously imagined: The “digital ABS” material is formulated during the deposition process by overlaying droplets of two different polymers chosen for heat resistance in one case, and toughness in the other.

As shown in the accompanying photos, Stratasys showed at K that printed plastic molds can also be used to prototype blow molded bottles and thermoformed shapes. In the case of thermoforming, a different type of Stratasys printer, using the FDM process of extruding and fusing thin plastic filaments, produces a porous mold that needs no drilling of vacuum holes. Other exhibits displayed printed plastic layup tools for vacuum bagging continuous-glass composites. In one case, soluble material was used to print a core for laying up a composite tube with curves and bends. The printed core could be washed out after curing the carbon-fiber/epoxy part.

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.

9T Labs continues to enhance the efficiency of its technology, which produces composite parts with intentionally oriented fibers.