Using Hydraulic Driven Slides In Injection Molding With the increasing complexity of molds and the parts that they produce, injection molders are forced to maximize the productivity of each tool. In his continuing discussion on hydraulics over on the...
Randy's latest series on ptonline.com addresses the challenges that many shops face with lifters. Having managed thousands of repairs and preventative maintenance activities every year, he has seen many of the issues and challenges that molding operations encounter...
Hydraulics and efficient molding go hand in hand. In this recent article on MoldMakingTechnology.com, Randy explains when a self locking cylinder is an attractive and effective option. The basic message is that a locking cylinder is a good option when there is not...
Designing the tool based on the material to be used is one way that Randy has been able to enlarge his process window, reducing the risk of quality issues. In this article, he addresses many of the considerations and gives real examples with real materials and real...
Hydraulics are a very important element of successful and effective tooling, and Randy continues his hydraulics focused article series on moldmakingtechnology.com. This article discusses the importance of having enough pressure or a cylinder that is rated to provide...
The size and shape of the gates used in mold making are often not given the attention they deserve. Randy Kerkstra believes that many of the common assumptions about gate geometry should be challenged. In his recent article on Plastics Technology...
Designer's Edge: How to Correctly Size a Hydraulic Cylinder Randy Kerkstra has continued his series on Hydraulics on moldmakingtechnology.com, and this article focuses on how to size a hydraulic cylinder. In true Randy style, he broke it down into 3 easy to...
Texture is an area within injection molding that is often poorly understood, and rarely addressed. In this recent article on Plastics Technology, Randy takes the issue head on, dispelling many common myths and explaining the various factors of gloss and texture. He...
In this article on MoldMakingTechnology.com, Randy starts his series on Hydraulics. He plans on covering proper use and sizing, limit switches, proximity sensors and other factors that can impact potential failures. You can read the full article...
Randy Kerkstra continued his series on venting with this article that gets into the specifics of venting and addresses many of the challenges that molders face everyday. One issue in particular that Randy discusses is perimeter venting. With the industry being split...
13 Tips That Will Improve Equipment Maintenance "The workhorse of any modern manufacturing plant, other than employees, is the equipment that makes the building hum. If problems arise, a plant owner will lose money by the minute. If equipment isn’t properly...
As one of the fastest growing scientific and engineering technologies in the world, Nanotechnology holds an incredible amount of potential, especially in the manufacturing and plastics industries. But it is also being used in fields such as bioscience, medicine,...
While far from certain, the future of plastics manufacturing in the United States is showing some current trends that are worth watching closely. "Economists and analysts are watching trends in manufacturing closely, as it’s an industry that is in part driving the...
The world of injection molding has advanced substantially, and new approaches are being adopted continuously to reduce costs. Most of these approaches look to methods of lean manufacturing to save material, eliminate secondary processes and operations, and use smaller...
In the injection molding industry, waste is a problem. During the molding process, the generated waste can be expensive and…well, wasteful. Having a waste management system in place can help reduce waste and make the molding process more efficient and cost effective....
"The future of plastic manufacturing in the United States is far from certain, but many trends are beginning to take shape." 3D printing and similar innovations are accelerating pace. And new production procedures are always being talked about and modified, whether...
5 Major Advantages to Using Plastic Injection Molding for the Manufacturing of Parts Plastic injection molding is extremely versatile method of producing parts and products. It is one of the preferred methods for manufacturing parts because it has multiple advantages...
Creating and Managing Culture Change Whether it's a fully-fledged lean manufacturing shift or just a stronger sense of community in the break room, companies are becoming more concerned about creating a sense of culture in the work place, especially when change is...
If you're looking for an injection molder for your project, it is important you find one that suits your needs and offers you the best possible injection molding service. In all probability, you will continue using the same molder for all your projects, as long as you...
A compelling article from Industry Week that might change the way you think about lean manufacturing. Their claim: Lean needs to be about people first, tools later. "If we are serious about global competitiveness and a sustained ability to retain American jobs in...
