MoldMaking Technology

OCT 2017

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moldmakingtechnology.com 45 CONTRIBUTOR Ryan Pohl is founder of Praeco Skills LLC. FOR MORE INFORMATION Praeco Skills LLC / 616-951-2133 ryan@praecoskills.com / praecoskills.com Go over the idea of true net during the training on spotting tools. Be sure to put emphasis on proper spotting of slides and lifters. Hot runners. Apprentices need a general understanding of hot runners. Technicians that have advanced beyond the apprentice level can continue to learn about hot runners, which represent a specialized area. A general understanding for apprentices includes the ability to recognize the various systems, components and applications. The apprentice should understand why and when to use a hot runner, the function of its heaters, thermocouples, hot drops and tip styles. For an apprentice, understanding a tip's bearing surfaces and its cool- ing issues is critical. Hydraulics. Many plastics injection molds incorporate hydraulics, so apprentices must learn when and why they are used, recognize the various cylinder types and know how to choose the proper cylinder for the application at hand. Additionally, apprentices should be able to identify and explain hydraulic sensors, switches, mounting methods, rod connec- tions and fittings, and they should be able to use basic hydraulic formulas. Runners and gating. Apprentices should be able to recognize the different types and applications of runners and gates. Also, they should understand cavity filling, which requires a knowl- edge of gate geometry. And, learning about the various runner types and geometries will help them understand plastic flow. Mold types. Apprentices will likely see an array of work come through a shop, so training should include an overview of the various mold types and their applications. Examples include three-plate, two-shot, stack, unscrewing, thermoform and blow molds. LEARN MORE For more from Randy Kerkstra's series, "The Designer's Edge," visit short.moldmakingtechnology.com/rkerkstra .

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