The Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pa., has announced an upcoming series of workshops with both classroom and hands-on training.
• “Plastic Materials, Processing and Testing,” May 20-22. The workshop provides fundamental knowledge of plastics — how they are processed, tested and characterized. An understanding of polymer structure and its effect on polymer properties is covered.
Hands-on sessions will show how certain data sheet properties are determined, such as melt index, tensile strength and impact resistance. Participants will get an introduction to processing technologies such as injection molding, extrusion, rotational molding, vacuum forming and extrusion blow molding.
The cost is $995 for the course, taught by Joshua Rice.
• “Rotational Molding and Advanced Materials Workshop,” May 14-15 taught by Dru Laws, gives participants practical experience in combination with classroom training on high-level technology in rotomolding. It will highlight the connection between material preparation, molding parameters and final part quality. This will be the first class to use Penn College's new rotational molding machine in the Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence.
The cost is $1,095.
• “Extrusion Seminar and Hands-On Workshop,” June 4-6, taught by Chris Rauwendaal and Kirk Cantor. Rauwendaal presents course topics in a multimedia format, supplemented by printed materials. Cantor leads hands-on training, which is about 50 percent of the course, including the use of a single-screw and twin-screw extruder, blown film line, injection molding machine, melt indexer and tensile tester.
The workshop costs $1,295.
• “Extrusion Seminar and Hands-On Workshop,” June 11-13, is taught by Mark Strachan, with guest speakers to be announced.
Topics include advances in raw materials and sheet extrusion, heating and cooling sheet, forming, trimming and downstream handling of parts. There will be an advanced session on raw materials, rheological properties, specialty sheet, design of the part, mold and plug-assist, heating technology, advanced forming techniques, trimming technology and diagnostic tools. Hands-on sessions include thermoforming process techniques and troubleshooting, materials testing and sheet extrusion basics.
The cost is $1,295
• “Hands-On Heavy-Gauge/Cut-Sheet Thermoforming,” June 18-20, led by Jay Waddell, with special guest speakers to be announced. Topics include advances in raw materials and sheet extrusion, heating and cooling sheet, forming, trimming and handling parts.
An advanced session covers raw materials, rheological properties, specialty sheet, part, mold and plug-assist design, heating technology, advanced forming techniques, trimming technology, assembly methods and diagnostic tools. Hands-on sessions include thermoforming process techniques and troubleshooting, materials testing and sheet extrusion basics.
The cost is $1,295.
• “Injection Molding Processing 1,” June 24-25, covers scientific molding method set-ups, operation and injection molding process control. All molders should master the principles of decoupled molding to produce consistent product in the most efficient way, according to the instructor, Tim Weston. Leaving this course, participants should be able to set up cycles on various injection molding presses with identical results.
The cost is $995.
• “Injection Molding Processing 2 and Troubleshooting,” June 26-28, taught by Tim Weston. The course, which covers the science of injection molding, is aimed at advanced individuals looking for solutions to tough molding problems. Students learn how the machine, mold and material all play a role in the molding of plastic parts. The hands-on component follows the pellet from start to finished product, and will highlight how to make a consistent, quality modled part.
Controlling part dimensions and defects will be discussed in terms of how the part was produced. The third day is for troubleshooting real-world problems. Each participant will bring a molding issue that will be analyzed, and the class will solve the problem, while the instructor acts as a facilitator.
The cost is $1,095.
For information, contact Penn College at 570-321-5533, email [email protected]