Category Archives: Technical Articles

How to Properly Size a Runner System

Cold runner systems, which bridge the molding machine to a part forming cavity, are a significant factor in determining the success or failure of an injection molded part. Optimally sizing a runner system provides several critical advantages:


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Beaumont, Plasti-Coil Team Up to Solve Injection Molding Challenges

Sometimes, the costs you avoid can be more impactful than those you incur. This was the case for Plasti-Coil, a family owned injection molder in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, known for successfully molding tight tolerance and high-precision parts.


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Gate Freeze: Is It Always the Gate?

Gate Freeze: Is It Always the Gate?

By: Jennifer Schmidt, Sr. Simulation Instructor, AIM

It is not always gate freeze that dictates our ability to pack out a part. This article explores additional possibilities that could be causing your headaches.


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Plastic Degradation During Injection Molding

Plastic Degradation During Injection Molding

By: David Rose, Senior Instructor, AIM

When it comes to the injection molding of thermoplastic materials, it is reasonable to assume that most processers give little consideration to the molecular weight (MW) of the materials that they are using to mold parts. Their focus will often be on other factors important to the manufacturing operation, such as: cycle time, spoilage, part dimensions, aesthetics, and performance testing. Although MW is not always at the forefront of thought, it is very important to the performance of the product. Therefore, it is imperative that processors recognize that the injection molding process affords plenty of opportunities to degrade the material.


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Moldflow vs. Mold Floor

Moldflow vs. Mold Floor: When Simulation Doesn’t Match Reality

By: Jennifer Schmidt, Sr. Simulation Instructor, AIM

It can be a struggle to accurately correlate simulation results to the molding floor. Many variables can contribute to discrepancies between the two. This article highlights some of the possible points of discrepancy.


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Mold vs. Machine

Mold vs. Machine: Evaluation Considerations

By: Jason Travitz, Sr. Processing Instructor, AIM

Much can be written about Mold vs. Machine criteria and selecting the correct machine for a given mold. This evaluation can become stressful for a molder because if one of the criteria is missed or incorrect, the mold may not run or will run poorly in the selected machine.


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