How do you go about evaluating hot runner nozzles? First, evaluate the entire molding system—including part design, plastics material, part weight, cycle time, mold, runner, gates (valve or thermal), nozzles, temperature control and molding machine characteristics. […]
Moldflow Plastic Insight (MPI) is a computer simulation of injection molding that “helps us begin to understand what is going on inside the mold,” […]
Hot runner systems have traditionally used either pneumatic or hydraulic actuation to open and close valve gates. […]
In food packaging, the trend has been toward increasingly thinner walls and higher outputs. To accommodate this trend, […]
When dealing specifically with closure and consumer applications, part and production quality—along with color change performance—are major considerations. Maintaining optimum melt homogeneity is key to achieving this. […]
The manifold is an important component in delivering a consistent and homogeneous melt to the cavity. Today’s industry standard includes naturally balanced melt channels (both with and without level changes), […]
Hot runner temperature control and proper hot runner system management can easily get lost in the day-to-day flurry of tool changes, process setup, equipment issues and myriad other urgent matters. Compounding this challenge is the need to onboard and train new employees on why things are done a certain way and not just how. Here [...]
New part challenges directly translate into new tooling challenges. While many hot runner system suppliers have responded with new designs, […]
The starting point in any improvement is a clear understanding of the business goals. In the analysis process, a set of goals was discovered that has been close to universal across the companies interviewed: increase productivity, […]
In talking with tool shop executives, it became apparent that many do not take the time to analyze their business processes. […]