Webinars
Solutions for Undercut Molding
May 1, 2013 @ 11AM ET
Producing plastic parts with undercuts presents distinct challenges for molders. This webinar will focus on various mold action technologies used to remove parts with protrusions, recessions and similar features in a part’s design that prevent the mold, after the part is formed, from sliding away along the parting direction. Solutions to undercut application removal that will be discussed include hydraulic unscrewing devices, lifters, expandable cavities and collapsible cores. This webinar’s objective is to present an array of technologies that give molders better, more cost-efficient methods of producing undercut or threaded parts.
Hosted by: Plastics Today
Sponsor: DME
Quality in Injection Molding - Quality's Involvement Throughout the Product Life
March 22, 2013 @ 12PM ET
Before they quote a job, injection molders must understand how quality and price are related and they must know and hold to their policies on mold acceptance, part acceptance, payment terms, and how to handle rejects and acceptable quality levels. Join Bill Tobin for this free webcast at PlasticsToday and benefit from his 45 years of experience in injection molding in the first of a four-part series on successful injection molding, helping attendees master the shop floor and the front office. In Quality Injection Molding, Bill will also discuss how parts completely to print, are in fact, impossible, and ask who specified packaging.
Hosted by: Plastics Today
Sponsor: Plex Online
Determining Process Capability as a Tool for Continuous Improvement
December 14, 2012 @ 12PM ET
During this webinar, internationally recognized injection molding expert Mike Sepe will discuss how plastics processors can determine and use process capability as a tool for continuous improvement. Statistical process control has been replaced in most manufacturing operations with a collection of more complex (but often less manageable) tools that place an emphasis on process and procedure over results. Ultimately, however, consistency is the name of the game; hitting an agreed-upon target with as little variation as possible is every plastics processor’s goal. Now that a well-defined method for arriving at an optimal process has been defined, it is time to discuss the ongoing process of monitoring in order to keep things on track.
Hosted by: Plastics Today
Sponsor: Stratasys uPrint
Go With the Flow
Date: : November 30, 2012 @ 12PM ET
Attend this free webcast with Extrusion Expert Allan Griff to better understand melt viscosity, why it matters, how it can be misleading, and how you can test and influence it so that you and your company can produce more saleable parts.
Hosted by: Plastics Today
Sponsor: Clariant and Tinius Olsen
How Collapsible Core & Dove Tail Core Technology Improves Undercut Molding Efficiency
Date: : November 13, 2012 @ 2PM ET
Producing plastic parts with undercuts present distinct challenges for designers and molders. The Collapsible Core has expanded the capabilities of undercut molding since 1968 with its integral flexing steel segment design. Since 2009 Dove Tail Collapsible Cores have provided the most compact way to mold internal threads and undercut features. We will present recent technological advancements that provide better, more cost-efficient methods of producing undercuts and threaded parts.
Hosted by: Plastics Today
Sponsor: DME
A Scientific Approach To Developing the Molding Process
Date: : October 26, 2012 @ 12PM ET
Examining most set up sheets for injection molding processes can be a frustrating exercise in translation. Lack of standardization in the way controllers present the numbers is part of the problem. But the other aspect of this problem is related to the manner in which molding processes are developed. Ask most process technicians how they arrived at the process conditions on their set-up sheet and they cannot tell you. This webinar will discuss a scientific approach to developing a molding process that is robust, repeatable, and transportable from machine to machine and plant to plant.
Hosted by: Plastics Today
Sponsor: ASACLEAN and FORTUS
How Injection Molders Achieve First Shot Success with SIGMASOFT
Date: October 23, 2012 @ 12PM ET
The capability of process simulation software to accurately consider the entire mold and injection molding process supports consistent first shot success at the molding machine. This webinar will show how the use of SIGMASOFT® promotes effective communication and how documentation closes the loop between engineering and production.
Who should attend? Anyone with an interest in increasing productivity and profits at injection molding facilities.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsor: SIGMA Plastic Services, Inc.
The Role of the Molding Machine in the Manufacturing Process
Date: August 24, 12PM ET/9AM PT
For every mold and material there is an ideal range of machine sizes and capabilities that can be expressed in terms of clamp tonnage, shot capacity, and the sophistication of the hardware in the areas that really matter. In this webinar we will discuss those machine specification considerations and how they impact the ability of the processor to establish a robust process and consistently make salable parts.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsor: Engel, Stratasys, Plex Systems
Purging Tips and Trouble Shooting Common Plastic Processing Issues
Date: July 17, 2PM ET/11AM PT
The merits of using an effective commercial purging compound (CPC) are now realized more than ever by the plastics processing community. This webinar goes beyond the “why’s” and “how’s” of using a CPC; it builds upon the already existing understanding that CPC’s provide processors enormous time and cost savings. The webinar discusses ways in which CPC’s can be used in order to solve certain processing issues while also helping to think outside the “purging box” when dealing with issues that may not be purge-related or that can’t be solved by using a CPC.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsor: ASACLEAN
Data Acquisition: Get the Numbers!
June 27, 2012 2PM ET, 1PM CT, 11AM PT
Measure, record and understand the process variables. Measurement is a key to effective management, and that certainly holds true for extrusion. Few know that better than consulting engineer Allan Griff, who has worked in this field for over four decades. Join this webinar to help you benchmark where your operation stands and to gather ideas on how to get to where you need to be. Whether you are an old hand or new to the process, you are certain to learn something new. There will be about 45 minutes of presentation, with another 15 minutes reserved for questions. Written questions and comments may be sent in advance of the webinar, in Spanish, French or German as well as English, to algriff@griffex.com. Answers during the webinar, or in written responses after it, will be in English.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsored by: -
June 15, 12:00 PM ET/11:00 AM CT
No cost is of greater consequence to injection molders than that of their resin and compounds; all the more reason to ensure you properly prepare hydrophilic plastics before molding with them. During this webinar, internationally recognized injection molding expert Mike Sepe will discuss which materials require drying, methods of drying with their advantages and disadvantages, and proper moisture measurement. If you work with PC, PET or other water-loving plastics, or think you soon may, then this webinar is a must.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsored by: Arizona Instrument and Stratasys Mojo
Date: May 4, 2012, 12:00 PM ET/11:00 AM CT
Injection molding companies very often take themselves out of the material selection discussion, but building up that expertise can be a competitive advantage for a molder trying to win business. Successful material selection ultimately depends on an early and accurate assessment of application requirements. You have to know what the component is going to have to do, under what conditions, and for how long. Mike Sepe will walk webcast attendees through a application check sheet to make sure you’ve picked the right resin for the job.
Hosted by: Mike Sepe and Plasticstoday.com
Sponsored by: Fortus
The components of a successful application—Up-front cost reduction through concurrent engineering and DFMA
Date: February 24, 2012, 12:00 PM ET/11:00 AM CT
The earlier you can catch a design or process flaw, the more money you can save. That immutable fact is at the heart of this first presentation in a series of webcasts that will lead participants from design and material selection through injection molding and validation. In this webcast, Mike Sepe, author of more than 100 Material Analyst articles for Injection Molding Magazine and an expert consultant to the molding industry, will revisit two concepts that are key to creating a successful design, process, and part: concurrent engineering and DFMA (design for manufacturing and assembly). The five keys: material selection, part design, mold design, processing, and validation.
Hosted by: Mike Sepe and Plasticstoday.com
Sponsored by: Fortus
The Ten (11) Key Principles of Successful Extrusion
Date: Date: February 16, 2012, 2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM CT /strong>
Extrusion expert Allan Griff revisits and updates his Ten (11) Principles of Successful Extrusion: mechanical, thermal, speed selection, equilibrium on the screw, slip-stick in the feed zone, material cost rules, power cost doesn't, components of output rate, importance of "vital signs," (melt temp/pressure, motor amps), shear-thinning, and motor-barrel heat balance. This webinar is an hour very well invested for any plastics professional. No matter whether you are new to the industry or one of the old-timers, you will be certain to hear a few tips that you can put into practice immediately. Bring your questions, too, as Allan enjoys fielding them following his presentation.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsored by: Clariant
Ensuring Color Consistency for Plastics: Setting up a Color Program
Date: February 7, 2012, 1 PM CT | 2 PM ET /strong>
Color is a critical part of today’s plastics industry. Professionals need to know the fundamental components to build a successful color quality program. This webinar takes an objective look at four major steps in setting up a color program which will enhance color communication in your company.
Learn the key components to build a color program:
• Visual Evaluation
• Instrument Selection
• Sample Measurement Methods
• Understanding Variables That Introduce Inconsistency in Color Communication
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsored by: Konica Minolta
The Benefits of Servo-driven Injection Molding Machines
Date: January 26, 1 PM CT/2 PM ET
Servo-driven injection molding machine technology provides superior energy efficiency and repeatability over traditional hydraulic injection molding machines. This webinar will address the characteristics of servo-driven technology and provide details as to why this technology is accelerating in popularity within the plastics industry.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsored by: Milacron
Assessing Biodegradable and Biodurable Polymers for Implantable Medical Devices
Date: January 19, 2:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM PT
It is important to understand and tailor the degradation or durability of polymers. Degradation behavior of polymeric materials in medical implants over the life expectancy of the implants is of paramount importance for performance of the medical devices. Degradation of the polymers, whether deliberate or unintentional, has a profound effect on physical performance and, in implant applications, may expose a patient to degradation products. Bioabsorbable polymers are designed to degrade in a controlled manner, whereas biodurable polymers are intended for long-term use. This webinar will explore the assessment of the degradation behavior of major classes of medical implant polymers. A discussion of in vitro aging will be provided, along with examples of analytical test methods that are useful for evaluating material properties and performance.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsored by: Polymer Solutions
Plastics in the Environment -- You want it both ways?
Date: December 7, 2:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM PT
Plastophobia is an epidemic. The same people who want it to disappear in one instance expect it to last forever in another. Bag bans are the politician's delight -- it looks good to the voters. Three-letter words like BPA and PVC are the modern devils. Yet the science-minded among us see the truth about plastics -- they are all different, some better than others, but mostly beneficial to the environment via lighter weight, sanitation, secondary uses and more. Our extrusion expert, Allan Griff, takes on this tiger in a one-hour free webinar on Wednesday, December 7. Learn about the competing ways of being "green", the fuzzy definition of sustainability, and the logic and fears behind the popular view of our materials. Register now, and send your comments and questions in advance, and he'll try to answer them "on the air" or promptly thereafter.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Determining Process Capability as a Tool for Continuous Improvement
Date: December 2, 11:00 AM CT/12:00 PM ET
During this webinar, internationally recognized injection molding expert Mike Sepe will discuss how plastics processors can determine and use process capability as a tool for continuous improvement. Statistical process control has been replaced in most manufacturing operations with a collection of more complex (but often less manageable) tools that place an emphasis on process and procedure over results. Ultimately, however, consistency is the name of the game; hitting an agreed-upon target with as little variation as possible is every plastics processor’s goal. Now that a well-defined method for arriving at an optimal process has been defined, it is time to discuss the ongoing process of monitoring in order to keep things on track.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Primer on Polymer Additives and Their Impact on Product Performance and Quality
Date: October 27, 1 PM CT | 2 PM ET
Plastic and rubber materials are key components in many packaging, medical, automotive and consumer products. The functional performance of the plastic or rubber depends greatly on the properties of the base polymer. The molecular weight distribution and crystallinity are examples of two important polymer properties. Equally as important are the additives that are present in the plastic or rubber material.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsor: Polymer Solutions
A Scientific Approach To Developing the Molding Process
Date: October 21, 12 NOON ET
Examining most set up sheets for injection molding processes can be a frustrating exercise in translation. Lack of standardization in the way controllers present the numbers is part of the problem. But the other aspect of this problem is related to the manner in which molding processes are developed. Ask most process technicians how they arrived at the process conditions on their set-up sheet and they cannot tell you. This webinar will discuss a scientific approach to developing a molding process that is robust, repeatable, and transportable from machine to machine and plant to plant.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsors: Engel and Sigma
Go with the Flow
Date: October 13, 2PM ET
Join us on October 13 at 2PM ET when Allan Griff, independent consulting engineer and the star of our Extrusion Expert series of webinars, offers another spirited presentation, followed by a live Q&A, to help you better understand melt viscosity, why it matters, how it can be misleading, and how you can test and influence it so that you and your company can produce more saleable parts. Invest one hour of your day in this free webinar and benefit from Allan’s decades of experience helping extruders throughout the world. Bring your tough questions, gather your colleagues and join us for another of Allan’s popular webinars.
Hosted by: Plasticstoday.com
Sponsor: Meco-Woodex
The Role of the Molding Machine in the Manufacturing Process
Date: September 14, 12 Noon ET
Once the part and mold have been designed and the material has been selected, it is time to make parts. Much of the success or failure that is experienced at this point is related to the selection of the molding machine. For every mold and material there is an ideal range of machine sizes and capabilities that can be expressed in terms of clamp tonnage, shot capacity, and the sophistication of the hardware in the areas that really matter. In this webinar we will discuss those machine specification considerations and how they impact the ability of the processor to establish a robust process and consistently make salable parts.
Sponsor: ENGEL
Plastics Chemistry for Non-Chemists
Date: August 17, 2011
Plastics are chemical compounds, and are usually the major component of manufacturing cost in plastics processing, but most plastics processors are engineers or business types, not chemists. Therefore, a basic knowledge of the chemistry behind thermoplastics and their additives can be a real advantage in this industry. Combine it with your engineering and business acumen and it will make you a better professional and more valuable asset for your company.
Allan Griff, independent consulting engineer and the star of our Extrusion Expert series of webinars, opens these doors to the entire plastics processing community in his discussion of ‘Plastics chemistry for non-chemists.” Invest one hour of your day in this free webinar and you’ll be light years ahead of your peers when talk turns to double bonds, molecular weight, hydrolysis and more.
Resin Drying and Moisture Measurement
Date: July 29, 2011, 12 Noon ET
No cost is of greater consequence to injection molders than that of their resin and compounds; all the more reason to ensure you properly prepare hydrophilic plastics before molding with them. During this webinar, internationally recognized injection molding expert Mike Sepe will discuss which materials require drying, methods of drying with their advantages and disadvantages, and proper moisture measurement. If you work with PC, PET or other water-loving plastics, or think you soon may, then this webinar is a must.
Sponsor: MITSUMI and Arizona Instrument LLC
Ten Principles of Purging
Date: Aug 3, 2011, 2PM ET
This webinar presents 10 core principles of purging thermoplastic injection molding machines and extruders. Aspects of purging ranging from cost savings economics to environmental friendliness are discussed, supporting the notion that purging is a vital component of the plastics manufacturing process.
Sponsor: ASACLEAN
Injection Molding Expert Series: Material Selection - Sourcing by Quality, Cost, and Location
Date: June 17, 2011, 12:00 PM EST |
No cost is of greater consequence to injection molders than that of their resin and compounds. Internationally recognized injection molding expert Mike Sepe digs into this cost and explains to molders how best to get the most and best material for their hard-earned money.
Extrusion Expert: The Economics of Extrusion
Date: June 15, 2011, 2:00 PM EST | 11:00 AM PT
Understanding extrusion costs is easy, but only if you avoid some popular misunderstandings. In this webinar, the third in 2011 in the Extrusion Expert series, independent consulting engineer Allan Griff puts the total cost of good extruded product into perspective
The Components of a Successful Application - Up-front Cost Reduction with Cost Reduction and DFMA
Date: May 6, 1PM ET
This is the first in our new six-part Injection Molding Expert series of webinars. Mike Sepe, the Materials Analyst of Injection Molding Magazine fame, will take molders from pellet to part, materials handling and process optimization, and more. Whether an experienced hand or new to injection molding, this series is designed to deliver valuable information to make you better at your trade.
Sponsor: Sigma
Developments in Video Extensometry
Date: April 27, 2PM ET
Why Do We Need An Extensometer? To determine precise specimen strain data from a tensile test, an extensometer needs to be used so that errors due to slippage in the grips, the movement of the specimen outside of the gage length, test frame stiffness, etc., are removed from the measurements. Additionally, in many instances the use of an extensometer is mandated by the testing standard.
This webinar will review extensometry technology options such as LVDT, Strain Gauge, Encoder, Laser, and Encoder & LVDT. Video extensometer concepts will be discussed, and Tinius Olsen’s new video extensometer will be presented.
Sponsor: Tinius Olsen
The Ten Key Principles of Successful Extrusion
Date: April 13, 2011, 2PM EST
Extrusion expert Allan Griff revisits and updates his 10 (11) Principles of Successful Extrusion. This webinar is an hour very well invested for any plastics professional. No matter whether you are new to the industry or one of the old-timers, you will be certain to hear a few tips that you can put into practice immediately. Bring your questions too as Allan enjoys fielding them following his presentation.
Show Us the Green! Tips and Tricks to Extruding Bioplastics
Date: March 2, 2011, 2PM EST
Bioplastics are one of the industry's hottest topics. Extrusion processors' customers want to know about them, and this free webinar will offer you an hour of in-depth information on these materials and specifically on extrusion of them. Plus, if you have questions, our Extrusion Expert, Allan Griff, will answer them.
K 2010 Extrusion Roundup
Date: November 17, 2010, 11AM EST
Date: November 17, 2010, 11AM EST
Color Matching and Spectrophotometry for Plastics
Date: October 2010
Date: October 2010
Tips & Tricks to Stabilize and Cool Your Bubble
Date: September 29, 2010, 11AM EST
Easier Medical Injection Molding Process Revalidation
Date: September 8, 2010, 12PM EST
It Aint Necessarily So: Some Extrusion Beliefs that are too Easily Taken for Granted
Date: August 18, 2010, 11AM EST
State of the Plastics Industry: Executive Roundtable
Date: June 22, 2010, 11AM EST
Webinar 4 - Extrusion Expert - DO Monkey with the Formula
Date: June 16, 2010, 11AM EST
Webinar 3 - Extrusion Expert - The 10 Principles of Successful Extrusion
Date: April 14, 2010
Webinar 2 - Extrusion Expert - Between the Screw and the Die
Date: February 24, 2010
Webinar 1 - Extrusion Expert - Data Acquisition: Get the Numbers!
Date: January 20, 2010
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