Plastics Training Academy Workshops and Seminars:
Facilities
Opening in August 2006, Penn State Behrend's new plastics manufacturing laboratory is often hailed as the most advanced and well-equipped of its kind in the country.
Nearly all major product manufacturing methods are represented in the lab, which was designed to provide practical, hands-on experience.
The 10,500-square-foot laboratory contains multiple pieces of processing equipment. Injection molding is featured, with ten microprocessor-controlled machines ranging from seventeen to 200 tons. Many of these machines are on rotating consignment and are replaced with the latest models every few years. They are supported with a complete selection of auxiliary equipment, data-acquisition systems, and a measurement and quality-control laboratory.
For a tour of the new Research and Economic Development Center at Penn State Behrend, visit www.behrend.psu.edu/redc online.
Design Capabilities:
- (5) 25-seat Pentium PC labs
- Software includes Pro/ENGINEER, ANSYS, Moldflow, and Polyflow
Processing Capabilities:
INJECTION MOLDING: Arburg, Boy, Cincinnati Milacron, Demag, Engel, Ferromatik, Husky, Sumitomo, and VanDorn
- Electric, hydraulic, and hybrid
- 35-200 ton capacity (0.1-14 oz)
- Molds used in industry applications as well as molds for testing standards (ASTM, ISD) (many instrumented with pressure and temperature sensors)
BLOW MOLDING: Bekum and Jomar
- Extrusion and injection blow molding machines
- Parison programming
EXTRUSION: Davis Standard, Killion, CW Brabender, and Wayne
- 1 to 2¼ inch diameter screws
- Dies: strand, pipe, and sheet
THERMOFORMING MACHINES: Formech 660
- 18 inch x 18 inch
BLOWN FILM TOWER
COMPRESSION/TRANSFER
MOLDING MACHINE
- 75 ton Loranger press
AUXILIARY
EQUIPMENT:
- Data acquisition hardware and software: Kistler, Moldflow (Shotscope), Priamus, and RJG
- Hot runner controllers: Athena, DME, and MSI
- Gas-assist units: Battenfeld
- Mold temperature controllers: Advantage, AEC, Conair, PPE, and Sterlco
- Dryers: Bry-Air, Conair, Dri-air, Novatec, and PPE
- Granulators: Battenfeld, Conair, Cumberland, and Rapid
- Pullers: Conair and Ferris
- Vacuum tank: Conair
- Ultrasonic welders: Branson and Dukane
- Hot Stamper: Gierlich
MATERIAL TESTING/MEASUREMENT CAPABILITIES:
- Universal testing machine
- Instrumented TUP impact tester
- Gardner impact tester
- Izod impact tester and notcher
- Creep test stations
- Shore C and D hardness testers
- Rheometers: capillary, torque, and dual bore capillary rheometer
- Melt flow rate testers
- Ultraviolet weathering machine
- Moisture analyzers (Karl Fisher and lost weight systems)
- Color meter
- Flammability tester
- Micrometers: digital and laser
- Video inspection system
- Coordinate measuring machine
- Digital scales
- Surface plates
- Differential scanning calorimeter