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3-D printing taking center stage in additive manufacturing
By Don Rosato
The recent Euromold conference put 3-D printing center stage in the field of additive manufacturing. But what is additive manufacturing, and how is it applied? Additive manufacturing is a process of joining materials to make objects from 3-D model data, usually in successive layers, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies. The parts produced can be models, prototypes, tooling components and, increasingly, series production parts. And 3-D printing technology is the fastest growing segment of additive manufacturing.
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Toughening epoxy thermosetting polymer
SPE Plastics Research Online
Petroleum-based plastics are used broadly as they offer a wide range of useful properties. However, the growing awareness of environmental issues is causing increased interest in materials that can be obtained from renewable resources. Polylactide, a biobased polymer, is the main candidate able to replace the petroleum-based plastics in many applications. Moreover, being biodegradable and compostable, PLA can reduce the amount of plastic waste.
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Feb. 23-26 |
2014 SPE International Polyolefins Conference |
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Feb. 23-26 |
Plastics News Executive Forum 2014 |
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Feb. 24-26 |
SPE Thermoset Conference 2014 |
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March 3-4 |
All Ireland New Technology Forum: "From Translation, to Convergence, to the Bottom Line" |
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March 12-14 |
GPEC ® 2014 |
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March 25-26 |
Successful Plastic Part Design — The Fundamentals Revealed! |
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April 1-2 |
Plastics Financial Summit 2014 |
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April 3-4 |
9th European Thermoforming Conference |
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April 28-30 |
ANTEC® 2014 |
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May 6 |
AutoEPCON 2014 |
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May 6-8 |
Plastics in Medical Devices 2014 |
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May 31 |
Plastics & Polymers Innovation Awards |
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June 1-4 |
Rotational Molding Conference 2014 |
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European Parliament passes resolution banning hazardous plastics
Business Standard
The European Parliament has passed a resolution seeking a ban on the most hazardous plastics and certain plastic bags by 2020, as part of the European Union strategy to reduce plastic waste in the environment. Members of European Parliament also urged the EU to introduce binding plastic waste recycling targets.
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CMT Materials has developed a new series of narrated presentations to help thermoformers and toolmakers better understand the properties of syntactic foam plug assists. With 10-12 slides each, these short learning modules are perfect for part designers, tool designers and set-up technicians. Click here for your free download today.
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More plastics competition coming from China to US
Plastics News
It would not surprise most people to learn that imports of plastics from China into the United States have been increasing. After all, why should plastics be different than other goods, almost all of which seem to come increasingly from China? For those involved in the plastics industry, however, both the magnitude of the increase and the reasons underlying it are worthy of attention.
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New technology makes plastic out of carbon pollution
Climate Progress
What if we could stop making plastic out of oil, and start making it out of carbon pollution floating around in the atmosphere?
It's a particularly intriguing idea, posed recently in a report from sustainable business website Triple Pundit on a company called Newlight Technologies. The company's mission, as stated on its website, is to replace oil-based plastics with so-called "air-based plastics" on an unprecedented global scale. In doing so, the company hopes to "stabilize and end climate change."
Nanotechnology to help recover leftover oil
The Daily Fusion
Two new research projects are receiving funding from the Research Council of Norway to develop nanoparticles that can dislodge leftover oil that remains trapped in reservoirs after conventional recovery has been completed. Every percentage point of enhanced oil recovery rate represents billions in revenues.
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FEATURED COMPANIES
PSI-Polymer Systems is a leading U.S. supplier of technology-driven Screen Changers, Extrusion Gear Pumps and Static Mixers for the Polymer Extrusion, Recycling and Food Industries.
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Save time and money! From the simplest to the most complex toolings, our EOAT engineers can design a tooling to suit your specific application. MORE
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Injection molding: New twists for a mainstream technology
Design News
When it comes to manufacturing technologies, the choices are many and their number seems to grow daily. They include machining, laser cutting, water cutting, stamping, die casting, and various forms of 3D printing. Despite its age — well over 100 years — injection molding is still a "go-to" technology for producing plastic parts. No other technology offers as wide a selection of materials, and the cost per part plummets once a mold has been made.
Study: Recycling stream can handle up to 10 percent compostable plastics
Plastics News
Small amounts of compostable plastics have no impact on the mechanical performance of post-consumer recycled plastics, according to study published by a trade group that represents the bioplastics sector.
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The ultrasonic welding machine Easy 3000 Series is suitable for welding operations of thermoplastic parts from medium to large size.
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Clean Plast® is a ready-to-use purging compound in pellet form that will minimize your purging problems! Clean Plast® has been put through vigorous tests and has been reformulated time and time again, to continuously improve and perfect product performance. We believe we have the best cleaning solution for the plastics industry and that this product is more effective than any other product out in the market. Clean Plast® will help to eliminate future problems with streaking, black specs and hard to clean resin. Contact me today for a FREE PURGE TRIAL at your plant and see the difference a Clean Plast® Purge makes.
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PCPC's DryCleaner furnaces are designed to safely and economically remove small amounts (1 to 2% by weight) of varnish, insulation, epoxy, paint, oil, grease, plastics, etc. primarily from electric motor stators, transformers, end bells, engine blocks and other metal parts.
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Cheap gasoline and plastics, produced from cheap and abundant natural gas, is almost here
Extreme Tech
Siluria, after five years of research, seems to have finally stumbled across a cheap method of converting natural gas into gasoline. Because natural gas is much more abundant and less in demand than crude oil, it's only one fifth of the price — about $20 for the natural gas equivalent of a $100 barrel of crude. After Siluria's conversion process, it may be possible to halve the price of gasoline and other oil-derived products (commodity chemicals, plastics). The best bit: Due to Siluria's rather unique research methods, it has no idea why or how its process works — only that it appears to work rather well.
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Insert-molded side airbag cover is industry first
Plastics Today
The insert-molded side airbag cover mounted in the front seat of the 2013 Ford Fusion incorporates several design innovations. The bracket/cover assembly is designed to be both the mounting surface for the seat side airbag as well as be integral to both performance and cosmetic function.
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FEATURED COMPANIES
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MECO’s AH Type-2 split seal space requirements are 2.5” (65mm) around the shaft and 4” (100mm) along the shaft. Much smaller values are possible.
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Bisphenol A: EFSA consults on assessment of risks to human health
Plastics Engineering
EFSA is launching a public consultation on its draft assessment of the human health risks posed by exposure to bisphenol A (BPA). The Authority has undertaken a comprehensive review of scientific literature and previous risk assessments from expert bodies on BPA.
Coffee capsule molds benefit from HRS Multitech technology
Plastics Today
Coffee capsules for the single-serve automatic coffee machines have become extremely popular over the past few years, with the global market registering huge growth, noted HRSflow, a maker of hot runner systems for high-cavitation, high-productivity molds. The application requires the latest technological developments and a special attention to the design of the product, as it is seen by the customers.
New safety standards released for plastics machinery
Automation World
The Plastics Industry Trade Association and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) are pleased to announce the publication of two recently revised and approved American National Standards on plastics machinery safety: ANSI/SPI B151.20 — 2013 Safety Requirements for Plastics Sheet Production Machinery, and ANSI/SPI B151.27 — 2013 Safety Requirements for the Integration of Robots with Injection Molding Machines, both of which address detailed safety requirements for the specific machine or group of machines.
Missed last week's issue? See which articles your colleagues read most.
What is our fascination with cheaper 3-D printing?
Phys.org
The future of 3D printing is firming up as it moves from do-it-yourself tinkerers to key players selling complete consumer solutions. This shift brings important ecological and socio-economic implications. According to Google Trends, interest in 3D printing increased tenfold in the past two years and shows no signs of slowing down for 2014.
Carmakers use aluminum, carbon fiber to cut weight
CTV News
More vehicles than ever on display at the Detroit auto show are using non-traditional materials — aluminum, carbon fiber, magnesium — as North American automakers fight to get vehicle weight down and gas mileage up.
Ford's introduction of aluminum body panels for its workhorse F150 pickup truck was a radical shift which it said would knock up to 700 pounds from the truck's weight.
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FEATURED COMPANIES
A global leader in precision polymer extrusions and material science, Zeus excels at optimized tubing solutions including flaring, flanging, draw downs, drilling, etching and more.
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Bylox – A plant-based biopolymer that enables cost reduction and improved performance.
Creates an inexpensive resin replacementVery flexible with various resinsProduces good consistent master batch; consistent quality in molding and extrusionCan offset plasticizers in adhesive formulations MORE
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SPE Industry Update
Colby Horton, Vice President of Publishing, 469.420.2601 Download media kit
Andrew Plock, Content Editor, 469.420.2609 Contribute news
Disclaimer: The SPE Industry Update is a digest of the most important news selected for the Society of Plastics Engineers from thousands of sources by the editors of MultiBriefs. Neither MultiBriefs nor the Society of Plastics Engineers is responsible for opinions or statements of facts expressed in the articles referenced in SPE Industry Update. Advertising appearing in SPE Industry Update is not to be taken as an endorsement, expressed or implied, of the respective company's processes, products or services represented in the ad.
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