 Why are we here?  Filling the need of WI manufacturing  Where does plastics fit?  We use it everyday  Why are you here? Do you teach about plastics? Where can you make it fit?

 Plastics come in many forms from many products/chemicals.  Plastic types and characteristics.  Where do plastics come from? History powerpoint from University of Massachucetts Lowell

 Injection Molding  Vacuum forming  Machining  Strip Heating  Hot wire  Rapid Prototyping  Plastic Welding  Polishing Plastics  Dip Coating  and more

 Injection molding is a manufuring process for producing parts by injecting material into a mold.  Demonstration /Share ideas  Comments/Questions

 Vacuum forming is a simplified version of thermoforming, whereby a sheet of plastic is heated to a forming temperature, stretched onto or into a single-surface mold, and held against the mold by applying a vacuum between the mold surface and the sheet.  Demonstration /Share ideas  Comments/Questions

 Machining plastic is another technology often regarded as a black art by those who don’t do it. Imagine trying to machine a part that changes size and shape as you work it (and sometimes afterward), chips or melts as you cut it.  Thermal expansion is up to 10 times greater with plastics than metals  Plastics lose heat more slowly than metals, so avoid localized overheating  Softening (and melting) temperatures of plastics are much lower than metals

 Strip heating is an interesting way of shaping certain plastics. For this type of application, a heater is used to warm the plastic, making it flexible enough to shape into a variety of formations. This process is commonly used with acrylic plastic.  Demonstration /Share ideas  Comments/Questions

 A hot-wire foam cutter is a tool used to cut polystyrene foam and similar materials.  Demonstration /Share ideas  Comments/Questions

 Rapid Prototyping, the process of converting 3D CAD drawings to physical parts to create conceptual models. This prototyping process builds strong high-detail prototypes, from ABS plastic, or composite materials which can be used to demonstrate and test product designs  Stereolithography uses additive fabrication method where a UV-sensitive photopolymer resin is cured by a laser to build parts a layer at a time.

 Plastic welding or heat sealing is the process of welding plastic work pieces together. It is a very common process for joining plastics.  Demonstration /Share ideas  Comments/Questions

 The most common plastic polishing methods are vapor polishing, flame polishing, and mechanical buffing. Each process is best suited for particular configurations and materials.  1. Vapor polishing is not for an inexperienced person as special equipment is needed in order to avoid vapor contact with the operator.  2. Flame Polishing uses a hot flame to flow a surface.  3. Mechanical polishing is the most common, easiest to do, and is useful on any plastic.

 A casting process that involves repeatedly dipping a product or part of a product into resin. Repeated dipping results in a thicker coating of resin.  Plastisol is a suspension of PVC particles in a plasticizer; it flows as a liquid and can be poured into a heated mold or mold can be dipped in liquid.  Aside from molding, plastisol is commonly used as a textile ink for screen-printing.

 1. Do you think plastic materials will change?  2-2. Do you think manufacturing processes used in plastic manufacturing will change?  Questions/Comments  Go to work !