Course Structure
The Part Design course is taught over two consecutive eight-hour days in-person or online. The class begins with a review of fundamental plastic material characteristics – including shrink and warp – that are essential in understanding the complexities of both mechanical and dimensional performance.
Next, there are discussions on common plastic part design guidelines and why these guidelines exist so that attendees understand the consequences of deviating from, and in some cases abiding by, those guidelines.
Participants will dive into strategies you can use when designing for mechanical performance, covering topics including stress, strain, and modulus. This is followed by education on the impact that time, temperature, moisture, strain, and stress concentrations have on the final part design.
There are practical applications, including snap fits, press fits, and beams, incorporated into the course to bolster the attendee’s opportunity for learning.
Part Design concludes with a discussion on the key aspects of part cost estimation and methods for quickly evaluating cost based on the performance properties vs. the traditional method of dollars per pound.
Course Highlights
- Key performance characteristics of amorphous and semi-crystalline materials
- Molecular weight and its effect on performance properties
- Crystallinity and its effect on material properties
- Classifications of plastic shrinkage
- Advantages & disadvantages of common part design guidelines
- The impact the part design has on mold complexity and cost
- Mechanical properties of stress, strain, modulus
- Time-dependent behavior of creep, stress relaxation, and fatigue
- Environmental impacts of temperature and moisture
- Labs: snap fits, press fits, and beams.
- Methods for estimating part costs
What’s Included
In-person:
- All course materials, including:
- Course book
- Calculators, pens, pencils, etc…
- Daily breakfast and lunch
- Certificate of Attendance
Online:
- Course PDF
- Certificate of Attendance
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