Education in plastics manufacturing: Aluminum mold making and injection molding Academic Article

abstract

• Plastics are ubiquitous in the modern world with both positive and negative consequences. Students will benefit from understanding how plastics are manufactured. They will be more aware of the material and have a better appreciation for the need to recycle. Injection molding is one of the primary plastics manufacturing methods and hobby scale injection molding machines can be used to educate students about plastics and polymers. Furthermore, it is possible to create custom injection molds from aluminum using similar hobby scale tools. In this article, experiences introducing injection molding in the classroom and experiences with mold making as a senior design project are presented. Suggestions and procedures for using the injection molding machine and for creating custom aluminum molds are covered.

authors

• Bradley, Robert Kelley

published proceedings

• INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION

author list (cited authors)

• Bradley, R. K.

citation count

• 1

complete list of authors

• Bradley, Robert Kelley

publication date

• July 2022

publisher

• SAGE Publications  Publisher

published in

• International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education  Journal

keywords

• Aluminum
• Education In Plastics Manufacturing
• Hobby Scale
• Injection Molding
• Milling Machine
• Mold
• Plastics
• Polymer
• Recycle
• Senior Design

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1177/03064190211051105

start page

• 726

end page

• 738

volume

• 50

issue

• 3

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/03064190211051105