IT 114 - Plastics Processing I

Plastics Injection Molding Certificate Program
Industrial Technology

The course is designed to provide the student with an overview of commonly used commercial plastics processes. Plastic 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.

100 lecture minutes per week for 15 weeks/100 lab minutes per week
3 credit hours

Fundamentals of Injection Molding
Second Edition, by William J. Tobin, ISBN No. 0936994193

Gary C. Victor - June 2003

1. To recognize properties of categories of materials for processing implications such as flow and treatment.
2. To interpret process specifications of materials.
3. To set up a process accounting for relevant variables on an injection mold press.
4. To execute a plastic manufacturing process on an injection mold machine and peripherals.
5. To generate a part and recognize whether or not it is acceptable.
6. To discuss recent technical developments in plastics affecting molds, materials, and processes.

1. To listen and speak effectively.
2. To read critically.
3. To write correctly and effectively.
4. To apply appropriate mathematical procedures and quantitative methods.
5. To identify and logically analyze problems and issues and to propose and evaluate solutions.
6. To form reasoned value judgments.

At the end of the course, the student should:

1. Know and understand the various commercial methods available for producing plastic parts.
2. Know the different categories of plastic materials and the differences in processing injection-molded articles using these materials.
3. Know the safe operation of an injection-molding machine.
4. Know how to develop a process to produce cost-effective, quality plastic articles.
5. Know how the variables of the injection molding process affect the molded article.

20% - Homework Assignments
25% - Lab Write-Ups
20% - Lab Practical
35% - Exams

J. Learning Resource Center
...Tour of local plastics processor.
...Other Support: Text Resources:

1. Injection Molding: An Introduction,
... by Gerd Potsch and Walter Michaeli,
... Hanser Gardner Publications
2. Plastics: Materials and Processing
... Second Edition, by A. Brent Strong, Prentice Hall

Introduction - 4 weeks

1. Plastics processing
2. Plastics
3. Tooling and equipment

Injection molding processing - 4 weeks

1. Process definition
2. Processing variables

Injection molding - 6 weeks

1. Process optimization
2. Machine set-up
3. Troubleshooting defects
4. Process qualification

Plastics processor tour - 1 week