Erie Community College
Plastics Certificate Program
Plastics Mold Design I (IT 110) - The course will cover the fundamentals of injection mold design and give the student an understanding of basic mold design and function. Topics include: shrinkage allowances, gate locations, cooling, runner balancing, stripper plates, slide molds, two and three plate designs as well as molding machine considerations. Over the semester the students will have the experience of collaborating to develop a complete a mold design from scratch. Hands on examination of parts, molds, and drawings are featured as well as CAD demos and tours. Familiarity with blue print reading is required.
Plastics Materials (IT 112) - This course is intended to be an overview of all fundamental aspects of materials as they apply to processing. Topics will include: raw materials, polymer synthesis and methods, bonding, classifications, deformation and time-dependent behavior, physical properties, fabrication and processing, compounding and fiber- reinforced plastics, extrusion and injection molding, plastic forms and thermoforming, welding, machining and adhesive bonding of plastics, and plastics products, waste disposal and recycling.
Plastics Processes I (IT 114) – The course is designed to provide the student with an overview of commonly used commercial plastics processes. Plastics materials are addressed including material types, additives, polymer flow, and physical and mechanical properties. The injection molding process is emphasized, covering primary and peripheral machinery and equipment, molding variables, fundamental processing, and cause and effect relationships between molding parameters and the molded part. Lectures are reinforced with hands-on laboratory experiments.
Plastics Processes II (IT 214) – This course reinforces and builds on Processes I. The main emphasis is developing process control for highly repeatable injection molding. Other specialty applications of injection molding are discussed to familiarize the student with growing injection mold technology. Lectures are reinforced with hands-on laboratory experiments.
Statistical Process Control (MN 125) - This course is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of how principles of statistics are applied to control of quality in manufacturing. Control charting for variables and attributes will be covered as well as fundamental metrology and an overview of design of experiments.
Computer Applications in Plastics (TE 350) - This course is a survey course of all of the most commonly used software for technical communications in the plastics manufacturing environment. Software packages reviewed will include Microsoft windows, word and excel, outlook, access, power point and project. An introduction to 3D CAD capabilities through Product View (Pro-Engineer) is also enclosed. Students will create documents, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations. This knowledge will be utilized to transfer information via electronic medium. Lectures, interactive learning, and demonstrations will be employed. Laboratory exercises will be required.
Advanced Writing and Readings in Plastics (EN 130) – This course is an advanced writing and reading course, which is tailored to the needs of the plastics program. The course has a seminar or workshop format to facilitate intensive instruction in reading and writing for plastics.
Rev. 05/30/03