Beaumont’s FREE educational webinar series
If you want to be registered for all future Beaumont and AIM webinars, without having to fill in the form each time, you can now select “Register me for all future webinars” on our registration page and you will receive all reminder emails for every webinar in our series.
We have no upcoming webinars scheduled at this time. To be notified of future events, please proceed to the registration page and select “Register me for all future webinars“
Past Webinar Topics
What is Flow Grouping – and Why Should You Care?
Presented by Kevin Rottinghaus, Regional Account Manager at Beaumont
How do we utilize Flow Grouping to determine the source of fill imbalances in multi-cavity molds? How can you use Flow Grouping to get to the root cause of your imbalances faster?
Beaumont’s Kevin Rottinghaus will answer these questions and more as he dives into the science behind Flow Grouping and how you can properly analyze the filling balance in your multi-cavity molds – whether you are utilizing hot runners or cold runners.
By the end of this webinar you should be able to answer the question: Is it Steel or is it Shear?
Topics will include:
- Plastic flow fundamentals
- How to break down a multi-cavity mold into flow groups
- How to recognize steel imbalances
- How to recognize shear-induced imbalances
- How to download FREE software to make this process easier for you!
So You Measured Moisture Content. Now What?
Presented by Jason Travitz, Sr. Molding Instructor at the AIM Institute, and Mike Sepe, “The Material Analyst”
Preserving molecular weight during the injection molding process is critical to ensuring the success of a molded part. To the processor, this means avoiding polymer chain degradation during processing due to excess moisture (for materials that undergo hydrolysis), excessive heat, and excessive residence time (time at elevated temperature).
Typically, a molder considers each of these factors individually by verifying the moisture level vs. max allowable, melt temperature vs. the datasheet, and that the residence time is less than some arbitrary time. Another factor that affects a processor’s risk of molding degraded material is if the moisture measurement, actual melt temperature, and/or the calculated residence time is skewed due to measurement equipment and technique. In addition, these three factors can interact thus increasing the likelihood of degradation, especially if any one or more of those factors are higher than thought.
This learning opportunity will examine how to assess degradation in molded parts using MFI and present the results of a degradation study demonstrating the cumulative effects of these three causes of degradation.
Injection Molding Simulation: What Can I Trust?
Presented by Jenn Schmidt, Sr. Simulation Instructor at the AIM Institute
Simulation can be a powerful tool, but you need to understand how the information provided and the inputs into the analysis upfront affect the final results.
This presentation will delve into those factors and highlight considerations to ensure a successful simulation.
Reducing Tooling Iterations Virtually through Simulation
Presented by Annalie Fitzgibbon, Moldflow Software Sales Engineer at Beaumont, and Caitlin Tschappat, Manufacturing Technical Specialist at Autodesk
In this webinar, we will be discussing the influences plastics have on warpage and how to optimize them earlier on in the design phase to reduce the number of tooling iterations. The earlier you can identify and resolve issues like warpage in the supply chain, the greater the cost savings.
We will look at leveraging Moldflow throughout the entire part design process and how they can be validated and optimized.
Users will walk away knowing:
- Causes of Warpage
- How to isolate the Cause of Warpage in Moldflow
- Different ways to measure and interpret warpage
- Optimizing Part Design and Workflow to minimize variation
The Power of Material Characterization
Presented by Mike Cummings, Moldflow Software Sales Engineer at Beaumont
Do we ever stop and think about how we currently narrow in on the correct material to use for an upcoming project? Many people check off the simulation box during a projects lifetime, but why is Moldflow actually such a valuable resource?
Beaumont’s Mike Cummings will answer these questions and more as he dives into some of the science behind what makes Autodesk Moldflow accurate.
Many variables go into an analysis and we can’t continue to settle for “good enough” while on the quest to make “great” parts.
By the end of this webinar you should have a better idea of the importance of material characterization and how to start your next project on the right foot!
Topics will include:
- What makes material characterization accurate
- Comparing Material Quality Indicators
- Analyzing differences in Pressure, Temperature, Volumetric Shrinkage, & Warpage
- How to characterize your material at Beaumont
Using Moldflow to Optimize Your Runner System
Presented by Cory Arbogast, Moldflow Software Sales Engineer at Beaumont
We all want our runners to be sized perfectly for each mold, but there are many reasons that we can fall short of that goal. In this webinar, our goal is to help you get closer to “perfection” by sizing your runners appropriately for your given application, and we will show you how Moldflow software can be used to help you make better choices while going through that exercise.
This webinar will also show you what changes will most significantly affect cycle time, runner volume, and pressures while helping you find the right ‘sweet spot’ for an ideal output in each of these areas. We will discuss stepped runners vs. constant sized runners, and how proper runner sizing will help you save time and money while producing higher quality parts.
MeltFlipper: What it is, How it works, and Why you should be using it
Presented by Travis Belz, Applications Engineering Manager at Beaumont
Learn what a MeltFlipper runner system is, how it works, how it increases profitability, and how to put it to the best use with your injection molded parts.
By attending this webinar you will learn how MeltFlipper can eliminate or reduce injection molding variation, increase profitability, reduce defects and scrap, and allow for easier processing.
Diagnosing Mold Imbalances with Shear Tracing
Presented by Chris Myers, Applications Engineer at Beaumont
Managing seemingly unpredictable injection molding filling imbalances can cripple the manufacturing process, and result in missed orders and revenue.
A variety of costly part issues are related to unmanaged melt properties and misunderstood shear traces that begin within the runner system.
Unlock the mystery of shear tracing and learn how to predict the melt property characteristics that develop in the flow path.
Apply your new knowledge of shear tracing to identify cavity characteristics by flow groups, and normalize the effect of unmanaged melt properties in the runner system.
Developing your Employees into an Elite Workforce
Presented by David Hoffman, AIM Institute Director
A company’s most valuable resource is its people. Finding people that are already well-educated and trained in the injection molding industry is becoming increasingly difficult.
If you are the one responsible for hiring, your struggles are understandable considering only 0.4% of engineering graduates actually studied Plastics Engineering, despite it being one of the largest industries in the world. As a result, your workforce comprises of a mix of backgrounds and experience, and you are left trying to figure out how to educate and train everyone.
This seminar will introduce you to the AIM Institute’s education programs, technical content, and proven learning model that are all designed to develop your employees into an elite workforce capable of improving efficiencies in nearly any role of the injection molding industry.
Understanding How Polymers Injection Mold
Presented by John Beaumont, CEO/CTO of Beaumont + AIM Institute
Regardless of your job function, to be successful requires know-how and quality information. In the injection molding industry, whether you are a skilled part designer, mold designer, molder or polymer supplier, you need to know how a polymer will mold.
This should be of particular importance to the polymer supplier as they are your primary source of information on their polymers. However, what you traditionally get from them is a single extrusion based data point (Melt Flow Index).
Therma-flo was developed to give us superior insight into polymer flow in a mold when compared to any other method currently available. By capturing the influence of injection rate, mold & melt temperature, and cavity wall thickness, it provides skilled individuals with the information they need to design, develop, and manufacture plastic products better and faster.
Join John Beaumont as he shows you how this game-changing measurement tool and user-friendly software will permanently change the way you make your molding decisions.
MeltFlipper in the Mold: A Case Study Review
Presented by Travis Belz, Applications Engineering Manager
MeltFlipper is not a one-size-fits-all application.
Each mold, and each problem, requires a customized solution for their MeltFlipper runner designs.
Travis Belz will dive into a series of case studies to provide multiple perspectives on how this technology has worked in practice.
Moldflow vs. Mold Floor
Presented by Jennifer Schmidt + Jason Travitz, Sr. Instructors at the AIM Institute
Your simulation results may not always match the reality of what you see on your shop floor.
AIM’s Sr. Simulation Instructor (Jennifer Schmidt) and Sr. Processing Instructor (Jason Travitz) examine both sides of this dilemma and what the distinctions are between your simulation analyses and what your processors are seeing at the press.
Mold Cooling Strategies – Can You Take the Heat?
Presented by David Rose, Sr. Instructor at the American Injection Molding (AIM) Institute
The cooling system of an injection mold significantly impacts the molded part quality and manufacturing efficiency. As such, most within the industry recognize it as an important system.
A number of guidelines related to the cooling system have been published and preached over the years. It’s not uncommon for a particular guideline from one source to not be in agreement with another source. During this webinar, we will explore some of the most common guidelines, review the purpose of each, and review key, science-based considerations that should be made to determine the right approach based on your application.
Sizing Up Runners… or Not!
Presented by David Hoffman, AIM Institute Director
Designing an efficient cold runner design starts with selecting the proper layout, choosing a runner cross-sectional shape, and applying a sizing methodology for each leg of the runner system. The last step is usually where the fun discussions begin.
Most designers simply want a magic formula for sizing every runner for every mold, but often the formulas they use do not account for the part, material, pressure requirements, cycle-time requirements, and so on.
This webinar will focus on the most common approaches to sizing cold runner systems by comparing the results of six different approaches, and how the earlier decisions of layout and runner shapes combined with the sizing methods can influence the profitability of your molds.
Molding Better Molders
Presented by Jason Travitz, Sr. Molding Instructor at the AIM Institute
What do your molders know? What must they be able to do? How do you determine the appropriate training path for each molder?
In order to educate and train your workforce, it is critical to assess your molders’ knowledge base and how that aligns with their job functions and future goals. Understanding these factors will allow you to prescribe individualized training paths for each molding in your workforce. For example, not every molder in your organization is responsible for process development, so why would you send everyone to the same course that teaches process development? Furthermore, training and education should be followed up with a post-training assessment to ensure that learning objectives are being met.
This webinar will explain how we can help you evaluate, educate, and train your molders to excel in their roles within your organization. We will explore how to use the AIM Assessment Tools, ANSI accredited Molders’ Series of courses and the AIM Learning Model to mold better molders.