Plastics Fabrication News

The desire for thinness has led electronics, automotive, and packaging industries to clamor for thin-walled injection molding technology. But syncing the materials, machines, and molds means new challenges: high injection pressures and speeds. Meeting them will require robust tooling, high-flow materials, and generally new thin-wall molding equipment.

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Researchers have found a plastic coating to tame the effects of even the harshest corrosion-causing sea water on copper. Without toxic chemicals or high costs, the polypyrrole polymer protects copper with an electrically conductive coating. To work effectively, the polymer needs two conditions — "The oxide-reductive potential must be high and there should be minimal porosity."

The countdown to efficient thermoforming begins with tips from The Plastics Distributor & Fabricator magazine. Poor mold designs, manual timers, and old machines and ovens all contribute to inefficiencies. Consider the whole process: Can cooling be improved to speed up cycle times further? Will smaller sheets save material costs? Read more tips...

Linear drive technology has traditionally stretched biaxially oriented PP films at a high premium, but an expanding stretching chain may change all that. In the Mesim simultaneous stretching system, the machine and the chain pull the extruded film in opposite directions, improving the optical quality. The system cuts costs by 40% and energy by 50% compared to traditional stretching systems.

Common sense says that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. That also holds true for designers and manufacturers relying on stock CAD files online; why start from scratch when users can customize existing files? Not only do CAD configurators streamline manufacturing, Machine Design writes, they also smooth instant purchasing and shipping processes.

Each time you send CAD data along the supply chain, your intellectual property is vulnerable to theft. Moldmaking Technology suggests three options to prevent data leak and save money: file encryption; product data management servers that require secure check-in and check-out; or manually de-featured geometry. Read the pros and cons of each IP protection solution.

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Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is turning processors' heads as a chain-branched resin for thermoforming, extrusion blow molding, and blown film extrusion. Historically overlooked in melt processing, the fluoropolymer now garners attention for its low melting point, low viscosity, abrasion resistance, and sag resistance.

Where limitations of density, fragility, and deformation may close the door on ceramic piezoelectric materials, it opens the door for others. Amorphous piezoelectric polymers may replace semi-crystalline polymers in extreme temperature applications because they don't degrade until 400 °C — good for transportation and aeronautics.

The path to ill repute starts with lead paint and loose magnets in product designs, especially children's toys. Design News points out the "virtual hall of shame" as a way for engineers to avoid the same design pitfalls. But if notoriety is what you seek, then aim for the recall list of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, where Halloween fake teeth, toy swords, and magnetic game pieces find their demise.

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