Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic Injection Molding

Plastic Injection Molding

Plastic injection molding is widely used as a manufacturing process. The process of plastic injection molding requires an injection molding machine, a mold and raw plastic material. Theraw plastic material is melted in the injection molding machine and then it is injected into the mold. It is then cooled in the mold where is will solidify into the final part. Plastic injection molding is very popular and has its advantages, but there are also several disadvantages that have to be considered.

 

Plastic injection molding machine

Advantages of Plastic Injection Molding

Here are some of the advantages of plastic injection molding.

 

• Plastic injection molding can be used for almost anything. It is one of the most widely known and used manufacturing processes around the world.
• Production of plastic injection molding is fast and a large amount of parts can be produced per hour. The number will depend on the number of part molds that the machine can handle; generally it would be about 15-30 seconds for each cycle time.
• It has great flexibility and once the tool is made the material and color of the part can be changed without a lot of problems or difficulty.
• Labor costs are low because the machine or tool is self-gating and automatic. The labor costs are low because the machine does most of the work.
• The design can be flexible. The plastic injection molded parts will have a large amount of flexibility when you know how to design around certain restrictions.
• There is low waste when most of the plastics can be recycled and ground up. All the waste is also ground up and is reused.

Disadvantages of Plastic Injection Molding

The disadvantages of plastic injection molding are as follows:

• There is a high initial tooling cost. The cost to have a tool made for injection molding is high and if you are planning to make it yourself, an injection molding machine will be needed. You also need to know how to operate the machine.
• There are restrictions to part designs. You could possibly need to make some changes to the parts so that they can be made for you, or you will need to use a different manufacturing technique. It is imperative to remember that the mold tool is made from two halves that have to pull apart and the part needs to be able to be released from the tool.
• It is difficult to figure accurate costs of plastic injection molding. There are always uncertainties that need to be figured into the budget. Material costs can fluctuate and can labor costs.

Plastic injection molding is versatile and the go-to manufacturing process with several advantages. The evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages should be carefully weighted before you choose plastic injection molding as the preferred manufacturing method.

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8 Facts About Vacuum Evaporation Vacuum Evaporation

Vacuum evaporation is when the pressure in a container filled with liquid is reduced below the vapor pressure of the liquid. This causes the liquid to evaporate at a lower temperature than normal. The vapors are almost completely removed other than the source material before the process begins.

 

Thermal evaporation in vacuum

Some Vacuum Evaporation Facts

Here are 8 vacuum evaporation facts you should know.

 

1. Evaporation involves two basic processes. A hot source material will evaporate and condenses on the substrate. The gaseous environment and heat source of vacuum evaporation is different from the familiar process of water evaporating from a boiling pot.
2. The evaporation takes place within a vacuum. The vapors are almost completely removed before the process even begins.
3. Atoms that have evaporated can collide with foreign particles and have the potential to react with them. These evaporated atoms reduce the amount of vapor that will reach the substrate. This makes it difficult to control the thickness.
4. Materials that evaporate will deposit non-uniformly if the substrate has a rough surface.
5. Evaporated material attacks the substrate from a mostly single direction causing protruding features to block the evaporated material from some areas; this is called step coverage or shadowing.
6. When the vacuum is poor and close to the atmospheric pressure, the deposition is usually non-uniform and tends to not have a smooth or continuous film. The deposition will appear fuzzy.
7. In a high vacuum, the evaporated particles can travel directly to the deposition target and not collide with any of the background gases.
8. Any hot objects within the evaporation chamber, like heating filaments, will produce unwanted vapors that will limit the quality of the vacuum.

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8 Facts About Electron Beam Evaporation

Electron beam evaporation

 

Electron beam evaporation, also known as E-beam evaporation, occurs when a target material is blasted with an electron beam that is given off by a tungsten filament under a high vacuum. Electron beam evaporation is used at ZC&R Coatings for Optics and Abrisa Technologies. This process is not the most commonly used procedure, but it does have several uses and there are several little known facts about E-beam evaporation.

Schematic diagram of e-Beam evaporation

Electron Beam Evaporation Facts

 

Here are 8 electron evaporation facts listed below:

1. The deposition rate in electron beam evaporation can be as low as 1 nanometer per minute and as high as 2 micrometers per minute.
2. It is wear resistant and has thermal barrier coatings, making it ideal for aerospace industries.
3. The hard coatings are ideal for cutting and tool industries.
4. The electronic and optical films created in the E-beam evaporation process are great for thin film solar applications and within the semiconductor industries.
5. Electron beam evaporation is a line of sight deposition process and when performed at a low pressure.
6. The inner surface of complex geometries cannot be coated, only the outer surface because of the translational and rotational motion of the shaft.
7. Non-uniform evaporation rate can occur due to the filament degradation within the electron gun.
8. Scattering of the vapor cloud takes place when vapor deposition is performed a higher pressure. This means that the surfaces not in sight of the source can be coated.

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Plastic Extrusion: Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic Extrusion

Plastic Extrusion

Plastic extrusion is the process where plastic materials are converted from solid to liquid and then it is reconstituted into finished products. In other words, plastic is melted down and then reshaped into useful items. There are some advantages to plastic extrusion, but there are also a few disadvantages that must be considered.

 

plastic extruder cut showing the components

Advantages of Plastic Extrusion

3 of the major advantages of plastic extrusion are as follows.

 

• Low Cost: Compared to other molding processes, plastic extrusion molding has a low cost and is more efficient. The extrusion molding process uses thermoplastics and they undergo repeatedly melting and hardening, this allows the waste to be reused rather than be discarded. Raw material and disposal costs are lowered. Plastic extrusion machines operate continually and this reduces the chances of inventory shortage. It also allows for 24-hour manufacturing.

• Better Flexibility: Extrusion molding will provide considerable flexibility in the products being manufactured with a consistent cross section. As long as the cross section stays the same, the extrusion molding can produce complex shapes. Minor alteration to the plastic extrusion process the manufacturers can use it for plastic sheets or produce products that mix plastic attributes.

• After Extrusion Alterations: Plastics remain hot when they are removed from the extruder and this allows for post-extrusion manipulations. Many manufacturers will take advantages of this and use a variety of roller, shoes and dies to change the shape of the plastic as needed.

Disadvantages of Plastic Extrusion

Plastic extrusion has also some disadvantages.

• Expansion: Once the hot plastic is removed from the extruder it will many times expand. This is called die swell. It is problematic to try and predict the exact degree of expansion. Because it is hard to predict the exact expansion, manufacturers often accept significant levels of deviation from the dimensions of the product.

• Product Limitations: Extrusion plastic molding does place limits of the types of products that can be manufactured. There are alternatives that require an investment in a different type of extrusion equipment.

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Eco Wood Treatment: Definition, Benefits and Usage of Eco Wood Treatment

What is Eco Wood Treatment?

Eco wood treatment is a wood stain that is non-toxic. It is used as treatment and preservative of wood products. By using Eco Wood Treatment the wood will last for a long time and gives it a high end aged look. There is never any need to re-stain after using eco wood treatment and it’s maintenance free. It works by penetrating the wood fibers and creating a natural buffer against any water and fungal decay. The wood’s durability is increased substantially.

 

Benefits

Below are some advantages of using eco wood treatment.

1. Highly Effective

Eco wood treatment is maintenance free and will not wear off. It will not fade or peel over time. Instead, it migrates and covers the exposed wood as cracking occurs to keep moisture and fungus out.

2. Chemical Free

Eco wood treatment is a powder that is made from natural minerals. It has no solvents in it and will not leave a harmful residue in the water and soil. It has been deemed safe for use on retaining walls and any structures that will go below grade or within water. It is safe to use around pets, plants and people. Its contents are 100% organic compounds so there are no VOCs.

3. Natural Beauty

The natural beauty of the wood is enhanced when eco wood treatment is used. The natural grains and colors of the various woods will be showcased when they are properly treated. Eco wood treatment will penetrate deep into the fibers of the wood and enhance the natural wood color as well as give it a silver patina look to make the wood shine and look beautiful. Eco wood treatment can be tinted or it comes pre-tinted in black, brown, blue, green, red, orange or yellow.

 

4. Inexpensive

Eco Wood Treatment is a concentrated powder that is inexpensive. The average cost for a one gallon container of eco wood treatment is $16.00 and will cover approximately 150 square feet. Since it is a powder, the shipping and handling charges will be less. It also has a long shelf life when stored properly in a dry place. It is economical because it is a one coat application process.

5. Easy Application

Eco wood treatment can be applied to any bare, untreated wood. It only takes one application of eco wood treatment for the wood to be protected for a lifetime. It can be brushed on, rolled on or the wood can be dipped.

What is it used for?

Eco wood treatment is ideal as a protective wood treatment for any new or untreated wood. It is great for:

• House siding
• Decks
• Fences – posts and railings
• Furniture
• Signs
• Doors and windows
• Planters
• Vegetable gardens
• Marina docks
• Shake roofs
• Hardwood floors
• Log homes
• Pressure treated lumber
• Playgrounds
• Coops, birdhouses and beehives

How To Use

Mix the powder concentrate with water to make a liquid formula. Follow the label directions carefully when mixing to ensure that the right consistency is formed. Apply eco wood treatment directly to the wood using a brush or roller for smaller projects or using a tank sprayer for larger projects. The wood can also be dipped into the eco wood treatment.

Store any unused powder in a dry place and discard any of the liquid left over from the project.

Eco wood treatment is a safe alternative to other wood preservation formulas and will not cause harm to the environment. It is long-lasting and will preserve the beauty and life of the wood for years without having to ever be re-applied.

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Civil Engineering Software

1. 3D Nature’s World Construction Set
   – photorealistic 3D terrain visualization for cartography, architecture, civil engineering, golf, forestry and land planning.

1. 3D Structural Modeling Software – 3D+
   -An AutoCAD based parametric modeling, analysis, design and drawing system for structural engineers. Includes program description with downloadable videos. Offers online ordering and technical support.

1. Archon Engineering – makers of civil and mechanical engineering software, specializing in finite element analysis tools
2. ASCAD – software for civil engineers and land-surveyors that automates the implementation production rules for laying out civil engineering drawings. From CADCOM.

1. ARTS hydraulic design software – A graphical hydraulic design package covering waterhammer, water/wastewater treatment design, open channel flow and pipe networks.

1. Autodesk Civil– builds on Autodesk Land Desktop with tools that automate civil engineering tasks and enhance collaboration on projects from transportation engineering to hydraulics, site development to hydrology

1. AutoTURN – CAD-based software for simulating vehicle maneuvers for transportation
   design, by Transoft Solutions.

1. AutoTURN Aircraft – CAD-based software simulation tool used to evaluate aircraft and vehicle movements at airports, by Transoft Solutions.

1. BOSS International– makers of civil engineering software for groundwater, surface water and terrain modeling, plus applications for hydrology and wastewater treatment.

1. CAiCE Software Corporation – makers of civil software automation tools for survey, civil design, construction and drainage engineers.

1. Carlson Software – makers of several AutoCAD- and IntelliCAD-compatible surveying, civil engineering, hydrology/sewer, mining, and GIS applications, including Carlson Survey, Carlson Civil, Carlson Hydrology, Carlson Mining, and Carlson GIS.

1. CDS – a suite of civil design and survey software for Cogo, contouring, subdivision and roadway design. Free 60-day trial. From Foresight Software.

1. Construsoft – Offers the programs : Xsteel, a 3D modeling system for steel structures; Powerframe, for analyzing structures in steel, concrete and timber and Powerplate, to analyze plates with using the finite element method (FEM). Description of programmes and services offered. Examples of structures developed with these programmes.

1. DTWARE Engineering Software – Software for column and continuous beam analysis.

1. Eagle Point Software – architectural, civil and construction software, including AutoCAD add-ons.

1. ELPLA– to analyze and design slab foundations and to determine contact pressures, settlements, moments and shear forces of slab foundations by the method of finite elements.

1. Engineering-software.com– engineering software store features a wide selection of products with downloadable demos of most products. From KRC Technologies Inc.

1. Ezicad– integrated package for cogo and contour routines and road design.Download the program for a free 14-day tryout.

1. Geocomp Systems– makers of software for survey, civil design, volume estimation and setout projects, including Geocomp, GeoCalc and Geonav.

1. GEOPAK – suite of civil engineering software for surveying and roadway design.

1. Highway Safety Analysis Software – traffic accident studies program includes including data entry, summary by accident categories, collision diagrams and safety benefits evaluation. From X32 Group, Inc.

1. IcoMap– converts paper land records into vector-based parcel maps. From UCLID Software.

1. Inlet Master – a hydraulic program to help design and analyze the performance of storm drain Inlets, which allows the analysis of a complete network of inlets. From AMC Inc.

1. InRoads – handles multiple aspect of civil engineering projects including road design, corridor design, road widening, road resurfacing, landfill design, and building site design, by Bentley.

1. MWH Software – creators of water distribution software.

1. ParkCAD – CAD-based software for generating conceptual parking lot designs, doing what-if scenarios, by Transoft Solutions.

1. Performance of Reinforced Concrete – The Java Applet predicts the structural performance of reinforced concrete panels.

1. PGSuper– can be used to design and check precast-prestressed girder bridges in accordance with the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification. Free.

1. Rcolumn – Analyzes reinforced concrete columns for biaxial bending in accordance with the provisions of the AASHTO and ACI Codes for Working Stress, Service Load, and Load Factor designs. Features, screenshots and download.

1. Rockmate Technical Services– makers of software for the environment, vehicle tracking, surveying, security, explosives and the extractive industries.

1. Rockgrout – Animated and interactive programs explaining the design and construction of cement grouting. Includes an instructive game in which an imaginary hole is ‘grouted’.

1. RockWare Inc.– makers of more than 200 applications for geological, hydrological and other related earth-science disciplines.

1. SiteComp– stand-alone surveying and civil engineering software provides for contouring, legal description writing, and site, road and utility design and is compatible with DWG, DGN, DXF and ASCII formats. From SiteComp, Inc.

1. Skjeggedal Consulting – Offers Areas, a program for calculation of section properties of steel beams. Screenshots and free demo download.

1. Soakaway Design – Wastewater system design, includes rainfall map for the UK.

1. Software Solutions – Providing software solutions for both industrial and commercial engineering applications.

1. Spencer Engineering Software – For the evaluation and selection of standard open-web steel joists for floor and roof construction, including joist/slab vibration analysis.

1. SPLASHS With Ripple-Thru – relationship-based design software for civil engineers and teams designing roads, sites, sewer lines and storm drains.

1. Structural Analysis Software – S-Frame – A fully integrated suite of structural analysis and design software solutions, from entry-level 2D frame analysis to advanced non-linear 3D finite element analysis.

1. The Engineer’s Document and Design System – Structural Calculation Software within Microsoft Word, to integrating analysis and design calculations. With a comprehensive set of libraries for many specialties. Description of programme and libraries. Online demo.

1. Topocad– CAD program for surveying, design, engineering and mapping. From Chaos Systems.

1. VisionCivil – VisionCivil, The Civil Engineering Software for AutoCAD or MicroStation environments. DTM, COGO, TIN, String and Connectivity Manager, etc.

1. Wallingford Software – makers of software for the water industry, including data management and network modeling software to support planning and operations in water distribution, sewerage provision and river management and coastal engineering.

1. X32 Group, Inc – Highway safety analysis software for traffic accident studies, which includes data processing and filtering, accident summary, collision diagram, calculating accident rates and estimating safety benefits.

1. Primus-DCF is a free and complete software that allows Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and building contractors to easily create bills of quantities and estimates for the building industry through a very user-friendly interface. Your monitor becomes your desktop where you will be able to open Price Books, Price Lists, Estimates and Bills of Quantities, consult them, insert, modify or copy parts of data from a source document to a destination document, and easily modify data with simple Drag&Drop operations. Thanks to the WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) technology, the document that you see while editing is exactly the same document you will get printed on paper. You can have different documents on your monitor and operate on any of them wherever you want by simply pointing your mouse cursor on the part you want to modify allowing you to work in a more direct and intuitive way. Furthermore, the DCF (Document Computation Format) format can be modified for free thanks to Primus. This revolutionary format allows you to easily transmit Bills of Quantities and Estimate documents: send, receive, publish on the Internet, copy to hard disk (CD, USB Memory, floppy disk, etc). All the information in your document will be contained in one unique compressed file that can be also easily exported and edited in Word and Excel. No large sized database structures but just one small sized easy to manage compressed file! With Primus-DCF you can also take-off measurements directly from your AutoCAD drawing file with a very powerful feature that recognizes the drawing entities and automatically sends the measurements to the associated Price List Item in PriMus-DCF. This additional feature allows you constantly keep under control the Bill of Quantities and Estimated budget as the design phase progresses, updating all data in realtime!
2. Click here to download

1. Nisa Design Studio – used for designing slab, col, beam, footings (individual, combined, pile, raft), steel sections,retaining walls.

1. Sruds – Can be used for btech level projects.

1. Fastrak – Fastrak is the definitive software for the design, documentation and BIM interoperability of structural steel buildings. Fastrak uniquely synchronizes your design models with BIM platforms such as Autodesk Revit Structure.

1. Tedds – Free trial download– Tedds is advanced software to automate your daily civil and structural calculations. Developed in-house by CSC, Tedds includes a diverse range of calculations to a range of international design codes. Using Tedds will help save you time and make your daily structural calculations more efficient. Download your free 45 day trial today.

1. Structural BIM – Structural BIM is the ability to share the structural engineer’s code-based design data intelligently within the BIM (Building Information Modelling) project environment. CSC’s code-based steel and concrete building design software, Fastrak and Orion synchronises with leading BIM platforms, such as AutodeskR RevitR Structure and Tekla Structures.

1. Fastrak Composite Beam (free download) – Free software for designing composite and non composite beams. Fastrak Composite Beam is part of the Fastrak Building Designer suite, the definitive software for designing structural steel buildings with both simple and complex geometry.

1. Bridge Engineering Software (free version) – BrAsS (Bridge Assessment Software) is a purpose built application for calculating, organising and presenting structural section properties for use in the assessment of bridge structures.

1. UnderSee Explorer – Affordable, easy to use software for generating contour charts and grids. In Real Time Mode it is an automated data collector connected to NMEA devices such as a GPS/Sounder, providing real time visualization and navigation on the PC screen.  Points can also be imported from GPS/Sounder logs or other file formats such as shapefile or text files. Grids, contours and points can be exported to several formats as well. Other features include Metric and US units, Tide compensation, elevation adjustments, shorelines, islands, markers, and more. The name implies its versatile use. It is currently used by many different industries and is quickly gaining popularity for its “keep it affordable and simple” approach. We don’t try to do everything under the sun, nor do we intend to. We believe this is the key to our success. This lets us focus on making a product do something well, hence helping you do something well. There is a free trial download and a 100% money back guarantee on the product. Burlison Technologies is located in the U.S. and they are committed to top notch customer service. The product in under active development and enhancements / fixes are responded to extremely quickly, often within hours or days.

1. PPS – Performance Planning System – PPS is a stand-alone advanced land development design system complete with an education on how to create more efficient and sustainable communities. Its (patent pending) position based coordinate geometry is easy to use and learn. PPS is both coordinate and spatial based – the drawing is the geometry. PPS is not about creating faster plats, it’s about building beautiful, functional, safe neighborhoods that are environmentally and economically superior to conventional design and technology

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