Plastics Manufacturing Center
Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center, Rm. E128 · (570) 321-5533
Extrusion Seminar
Extrusion Seminar and Hands-On Workshop
Watch for details about our 2010 seminar
PMC "Partners in Excellence" Newsletter
This unique event combines the expertise of well-known extrusion consultant Dr. Chris Rauwendaal, of Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering Inc., Auburn, CA, with the training capabilities and modern facilities of Pennsylvania College of Technology's Plastics and Polymer Technology Department.
Dr. Rauwendaal presents course topics in a multimedia format supplemented by printed materials. Dr. Kirk Cantor, professor of plastics and polymer technology at Penn College, leads participants in hands-on training (approximately 50% of the course), including use of extrusion industry equipment – single screw extruder, twin screw extruder, blown film line, injection molder, melt indexer, and tensile tester.
Course topics will be closely integrated with hands-on laboratory time. For example, understanding of plastic flow properties, screw design, and die design will be reinforced by manipulating data gathered in the lab and utilizing extrusion simulation software.
The event will be held in the Thompson Professional Development Center on the campus of Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Extrusion Seminar & Hands-On Workshop
Register online or call the Plastics Manufacturing Center at (570) 321-5533
Topics
- Extruder hardware – main components and important design issues
- Polymer properties – important properties and how they affect extrusion
- What happens inside the extruder – different functional zones
- Extruder screw design – learn how to tell a good design from a bad one
- Extruder die design – tubing/pipe, flat film and sheet, and profile dies
- Twin screw extruders – co- vs. counter-rotating, intermeshing vs. non-intermeshing
- Troubleshooting – systematic approach, typical extrusion problems, case studies
Labs
- Single screw extrusion – throughput vs. screw speed vs. pressure
- Single screw extruder – blown film
- Twin screw extruder – compounding
- Materials testing – melt index, tensile test, capillary rheometer
- Injection molding – mold setup and operation
- Computer-based extrusion – engineering & training advice