Archives for November 2011

Injection molding is an advanced manufacturing discipline requiring quality precision injection molds to produce quality precision injection molded components.  In the past, mold building utilized skill and trial error to manufacture new injection molds, today to achieve the ultimate success companies use technology, computerized equipment and skilled labor to manufacture new precision injection molds.

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Automation in injection molding projects minimizes hands on involvement, resulting in improved consistency, repeatability, product quality and ultimately the best value for the customer.

Robotics can be used throughout the injection molding process during the insert molding or over molding process, helping to assist in secondary operations and quality inspections.  Using automation processes can eliminate waste, produce consistent quality components and at a faster cycle time.

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Below is a list of frequently used terms in the injection molding and mold building industry to help when discussing your injection molding project.

EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) which cuts metal from a work piece with a series of electrical sparks that precisely shapes the material into simple or complex geometrics. 

High Speed Machining is cutting metal by using recent speed technology that allows machining centers to do more work.

Swiss Screw Machining utilizes a lathe type metalworking machine using multiple spindles in the manufacturing of small precision parts; these are CNC controlled for one time setup with very minimal operator assistance.

Mold Simulation is the ability to simulate the mold fill process that accounts for multiple injection molding variables.  The data produced provides a basis for setting the actual process variables for use in the injection molding process.

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The concept of generating ideas within a group environment
is nothing new to product development. Alex Osborn popularized the process and
contributed a set of highly influential rules in 1953. Since then, a wide range
of techniques have been developed to help product development teams develop
novel ideas effectively and efficiently. Unfortunately, few design
professionals are aware of these methods, and even fewer understand the
elements of creativity to help make ideation sessions more productive.

A few months back, MIT Sloan, in collaboration with Boston
Consulting Group (BCG), recently published the verbosely titled Sustainability
& Innovation Global Executive Study and Research Project. It’s a
well-researched study—which is to say that it’s a long read—and definitely
worth reading.

In March 2010, IEC 62366:2007, “Medical Devices–Application
of Usability Engineering to Medical Devices,” went into effect, and compliance
to this standard is now required by the European regulatory bodies. Compliance
to the standard’s predecessor, ANSI/AAMI HE74:2001, “Human Factors Design
Process for Medical Devices,” has been required by the FDA for more than ten
years. Both documents state that medical device manufacturers must demonstrate
that all potential use-related hazards in their devices have been identified,
tested, and mitigated.

Little attention has been given to the way in which
usability results— the actual categorization and measurement of the problems
discovered through an array of usability evaluations— are communicated. Common
practice indicates that most usability practitioners organize the usability
results they identify by (1) category or attribute of a problem and (2)
severity. Unfortunately, there is little agreement among practitioners on which
list of categories is the most comprehensive and which severity scale is the
most appropriate. The most common response, of course, remains “it depends.”

As designers envision more complex, functional products, and
manufacturers increase production speeds, the engineers in charge of the next
step—assembly—need to step up their game, as well. Part of any continuous
improvement initiative involving assembly should take a look at continuous
motion technology.