Training Dates

The Plastics Technology is pleased to co-sponsor the Plastics Workshops and Seminars held at Penn State Erie with the Plastics Engineering Technology Program and the Continuing Education department.

Below is a listing of all available training in plastics. Not all seminars and workshops are currently offered, but please inquire with the Continuing Education department for future availability or on-site offerings at 814-898-6103.

For the most current Plastics Training Schedule, please visit our Continuing Education department's Web site. There you can view detailed course outlines for each course, instructor bios, maps and directions, lodging suggestions, as well as registration details.

Design of Experiments for Injection Molding
Design experiments and mold the parts, measure the characteristics being analyzed, and interpret the results. When experiments are correctly set up and carried out, they can provide information to facilitate the production of high-quality parts.

Fundamentals of Blow Molding
Covers what participants need to know to understand plastic blow molding materials and processes for optimizing the material process selection function, the basic principles of the design of a blow-molded part, and the application of this knowledge.

Fundamentals of Extrusion
Receive an overview of the single-screw extrustion process, equipment design, and operation. Gain an understanding of how to successfully apply the basic physical mechanisms involved.

Fundamentals of Injection Molded Part Design
Provides an overview of plastic part design, material shrinkage and flow characteristics, mold design, and the injection molding process. Explains the causes of and solutions to many unexpected problems. Teaches participants how to recognize whether part design, material, runner design, gate location, process, or mold design is the source of a problem.

Fundamentals of Injection Molding
Offers a thorough understanding of injection molding basics and terminology and includes diagnosis and discussion of problem parts. Approximately half of this workshop is hands-on molding exercises.

Fundamentals of Metal Injection Molding
This course is intended for anyone who is looking to become involved with MIM. Focus will be on the practical considerations of making parts, including outsourcing parts and understand the supplier's process.

Fundamentals of Plastics Packaging
Overview of the processes and materials used for packaging applications. Participants can gain the knowledge needed to optimize shelf life and product longevity.

Gas-Assist Injection Molding
Designed to provide a thorough understanding of the basics and terminology of gas assist. Includes hands-on exercises on molding machines and computer simulations to reinforce concepts introduced in the classroom.

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
Designed to teach participants how to deal with process effects, such as draft, parting lines, ejectors, and gates on the engineering drawing and in the CAD file.

Hydraulic Technology
Provides an understanding of how hydraulic technology impacts the safe and efficient operation of molding equipment. Various hydraulic components are covered from both the operational and maintenance perspective. Hydraulic symbols are explained and applied in schematics from actual injection molding manuals. The benefits and techniques of hydraulic fluid management are covered.

Injection Mold Design
Teaches how to design for competitiveness through proven concepts for mold manufacturing technology. The seminar offers a thorough review of the fundamental mold design requirements and concentrates on the design elements that are necessary to produce a sound operational injection mold.

Injection Molding Troubleshooting
Provides hands-on experience in solving common molding problems in the processing lab. Teaches the theory behind the solutions and problem-solving strategies in the classroom.

Lean Manufacturing: Fundamentals and Applications for Plastic Processors
Teaches the basic lean concepts and how to identify and eliminate nonvalue-added processes in organizations. Taught by instructors with unique backgrounds in both lean training and injection molding.

Mechanical, Hydraulic, and Electrical Aspects of Injection Molding Machines
For molders, setup, and maintenance personnel who want to gain a better understanding of the safe and proper use and operation of injection molding machines. Participants can gain a more intuitive understanding of the relationship between the machine function and the molding of plastic parts.

Metal and Ceramic Injection Molding: The Process, Designs, Applications, and Markets
Presents the various options and opportunities available with this somewhat novel manufacturing techniques. Topics cover how to select the right process variation to use and what types of parts are economically feasible to manufacture. Examples of current industry practices are discussed.

Mold Cooling
Provides a basic understanding of the thermal behavior of plastics, mold steels, and cooling fluids. Often overlooked, optimizing cooling is vital when attempting to maximize productivity.

Mold Maintenance Principles and Mold Relocation Considerations
Teaches sound principles for increasing mold and tool room efficiency. Demonstrates why it is critical to identify and separate the different skill levels and maintenance stages and to couple these with accurate mold histories. Illustrates how to organize and document a mold-tracking system. Demonstrates the steps to organize a maintenance program that will keep molds running.

Multishot Injection Molding
Covers a wide range of topics, from how to engineer a multishot part to what to consider when molding in a multishot environment.

Plastic Material Selection and Troubleshooting for Medical Applications
Gain a better appreciation of how material properties affect part quality and performance. Medical applications are featured, but this seminar can benefit any persons seeking to improve their knowledge of plastic materials.

Plastic Processes Overview
An overview of injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, extrusion, rotational molding, and thermoset processes. Covers the vocabulary and basic principles of plastics production. Includes hands-on exercises in teh lab.

Polymer Extrusion: Analysis, Design, & Troubleshooting
Provides a good understanding of practical rheology and what can (and cannot) be applied to the quantitative study of an extrusion process. An explanation of "why certain extrusion 'phenomena' occur" is a major overall theme. The presentation is from an industrial point of view with many "case-study" type examples. The effect of design variables, processing conditions and material changes will be demonstrated with emphasis on process optimization and troubleshooting.

Practical Rheology for Injection Molding
The complex study of plastic flow behaviors in injection molds is reduced to practical knowledge as it relates to part quality and process stability. This knowledge can be immediately applied by part designers, mold designers, and process technicians. Sample parts and case studies will be used and play an important role in demonstrating the fundamentals taught in the seminar.

Process Validation for Medical Injection Molding
Covers the basic requirements for process validation in an FDA-regulated environment. At the end of the day, participants should be able to apply the concepts to their own processes.

Project Management
Addresses major topics of project management and provides participants with a set of practical take-aways for immediate use in their work situations. Covers issues of scope development, risk assessment, resource planning, scheduling, performance evaluation, and human factors in project management.

Purchasing & Quoting of Plastic Parts
Combines lectures, case studies, and written exercises on how to estimate, analyze, and reverse engineer quotes; select a vendor, write a purchase order, specify injection molds, run a successful cost-reduction program. and much more. Outsourcing considerations are also discussed.

Rapid Prototyping Overview
This seminar is for engineers who need an introduction to the available technologies. Topics include rapid prototyping technology, machines, and tooling. Pros and cons of the major prototyping machines and desktop office machines are discussed.

Reverse Auctions and Plastic Parts
Covers strategies and tactics needed to succeed when sourcing and bidding on the new wave of electronic formats.

RJG Master Molder Module 1
Designed for the process technician, engineer, or manager who needs to understand and demonstrate injection molding skills at the machine. Includes the fundamentals of Systematic Molding from the plastic's point of view, and how machine controls affect the primary variables in the molding process. Successful completion of the module requires a cumulative score on both written and on-machine examinations. Upon successful completion, students receive technical certification from RJG.

RJG Master Molder Module 2
Teaches participants how to apply cavity pressure control strategies and DECOUPLED MOLDINGSM techniques using instrumentation and data acquisition. Course also covers the proper use of instrumentation and how to achieve process control solutions utilizing Decoupled III processing techniques. Participants can learn how monitoring techniques are used to detect and contain suspect parts and how to do accurate machine and mold qualifications.

Runner and Gating Design
Covers both hot and cold runner systems, and can be directly applied by mold designers, tool makers, and mold engineers. Includes an in-depth discussion for determining the optimum runner sizes and configurations along with techniques to determine the ideal number, location, and style of gate for a given part and resin. Sample parts and flow analysis are important tools used to convey the principles taught in this seminar.

Sheet Extrusion for Thermoformers
An intensive introduction into plastics extrusion, the sheet and film extrusion process, and the effect the process has on the extruded parts.

Thermoforming Fundamentals
Gain a working knowledge of thermoforming and the requirements of the process. Includes a half-day of hands-on work with TSIM thermoforming simulation software.

Thermoplastic Materials and Testing
Provides a comprehensive understanding of the common ASTM tests found on a standard material data sheet. The workshop is designed to familiarize participants with many of the actual tests through a hands-on lab portion that points out the strengths and weaknesses of the individual tests. Participants can gain a better understanding of the values presented when comparing materials and become better informed as to how those values can be applied.

Thermoset Materials
Thermosets retain a unique set of capabilities that are often ignored or only used after thermoplastic materials have failed. This course highlights the fundamental principles of thermoset material chemistry, processing, and performance. It can help to broaden the thinking process of those responsible for material selection.

Understanding and Controlling Plastics Flow, Shrink, and Warp during Injection Molding
Gain a fundamental understanding of the effects of the molding process, tooling design, and part design on the characteristics and properties of the plastic part. The concepts taught are critical to being successful in designing and molding quality plastic parts and the molds they are made in.