Unit 7 Working With Polymers Flashcards
What are the scales of production associated with plastic products?
Polymers are used at all scales of production.
What production methods are commonly associated with plastic products?
Mass and continuous production methods.
What is one-off production?
One-off production involves crafts people and artists creating handmade, bespoke products such as sculptures and furniture.
What are the characteristics of one-off production?
One-off production is usually time-consuming, requires a high level of skill, and is typically expensive to produce.
What materials are commonly used in one-off production?
Resins are commonly used for their decorative qualities.
What is batch production?
Batch production is a broad term for production runs of anything from ten to tens of thousands of products.
What is vital for consistency in batch production?
jigs, templates, and patterns
How does the mechanisation of batch production compare to one-off production?
Processes are more highly mechanised than in one-off production.
What are some examples of products that are often batch produced?
Moulded furniture and toys are often batch produced.
Why is batch production ideally suited to the production of some packaging products?
the efficiency and consistency benefits
What are jigs used for in manufacturing?
aid manufacture and speed up repeat processes, increased accuracy
How do jigs assist in line bending?
help make accurate angles
What is one use of a jig with polymer sheets?
help fold a polymer sheet and ensure that folds run perpendicular to the edges of the sheet.
How do jigs assist with drilling?
help with positioning and dimensioning
How does the use of jigs increase efficiency in batch production?
providing consistent and accurate setups for repetitive tasks.
What are patterns in resin casting?
positive forms used in resin casting to produce negative moulds.
What is the purpose of moulds in resin casting?
enable identical copies
What materials can patterns be made from?
clay, wood, and silicone rubber.
What are patterns usually sprayed with before they are cast?
a release agent
What factors influence the materials used for moulds?
how many times the mould will be used and what is being cast or moulded.
What materials can be used to make moulds?
Plaster of Paris, silicon rubber, latex, and GRP.
What materials are commonly used for moulds in school vacuum forming?
from wood, MDF, and Styrofoam.
What is the common material for industrial moulds?
tool steel.
What advantage does tool steel provide for moulds?
durability and longevity
What is mass production?
production line to produce high numbers of identical products quickly.
How does mass production compare to batch production?
It is more highly automated than batch production and requires less skilled labour.
What are common products that are mass produced?
food packaging, plastic bags, and cups
How are materials for mass production typically purchased?
generally purchased in bulk.
What is a drawback of mass production?
Set-up costs are high
What is continuous production?
Continuous production is similar to mass production using a production line to manufacture quantity.
What is a characteristic of continuous production?
Only one product is made with very few, if any alterations.
What is a key feature of continuous production?
there is no downtime
What types of products are ideal for continuous production?
HDPE milk bottles, PET drinks bottles, and film used for refuse sacks and other plastic bags.
Why is continuous production suitable for certain products?
products with high demand and the efficiency of the production process.
What is calendaring?
Calendaring is a production process using a series of rollers to produce a thin polymer sheet or film.
What happens to polymer pellets during calendaring?
Polymer pellets are heated and softened.
What is done with the softened polymer feedstock in the calendaring process?
The softened polymer feedstock is extruded through a series of heated rollers.
What effect do the heated rollers have on the polymer?
The rollers flatten and stretch the polymer.
What happens to the polymer sheet after it is processed by the final rollers?
The final rollers cool the sheet, and it is either rolled or cut to length.
What is calendared plastic sheet or film used to manufacture?
Calendared plastic sheet or film
What is extrusion?
used to create a continuous flow of plastic that is pushed through a die to create a specific profile.
What products are created using extrusion?
cables, pipes, mouldings, tubes, seals, and window and door frames.
What types of plastic products are made using extrusion?
It is used to create the plastic film used for bags and packaging, as well as the plastic filament used for 3D printing.
Is much waste produced during the extrusion process?
Yes, much waste is produced during the extrusion process.
What is the starting point of the extrusion process?
using a die instead of a mould.
What does the die do in the extrusion process?
The die sets the profile of the extruded plastic and must be made to a very precise tolerance.
What is required for the flow of softened plastic during extrusion?
flow rate to hold
What is the form of polymers before processing?
powder or granule form are processed to produce usable stock forms for manufacture.
What factors influence the formation of polymers?
manufacturing location, product type, production scale, and polymer material used.
Where can polymers be manufactured?
in a school workshop or in an industrial facility.
What aspects determine the method of forming polymers?
The method of forming polymers is determined by the product or part being formed, the scale of production, and the type of polymer material.
What methods of forming are commonly used in school workshops?
The text does not specify the methods, but it implies that there are common methods used in school workshops.
What is vacuum forming?
process used to create products by shaping plastic sheets over a mold eg plastic yoghurt pots and bath tubs.
What is the most commonly used plastic for vacuum forming in schools?
HIPS (high impact polystyrene)
What other materials are used for vacuum forming in industry?
, polyester, ABS, and acrylic.
Why is vacuum forming suited for use in the school workshop?
its simplicity and the availability of materials like HIPS.
What is the first stage of the vacuum forming process?
A sheet of thermoplastic is heated and pressed onto the former (mould) by atmospheric pressure as a vacuum reduces the pressure below the softened thermoplastic.
What happens to the plastic during the vacuum forming process?
The plastic takes on the shape of the mould, then cools and sets in position before the mould is removed.
What is a suitable mould/former in vacuum forming?
A suitable mould/former is carefully manufactured.
What is the role of the electric heater in the vacuum forming process?
The electric heater is turned on to warm the plastic sheet.
What occurs to the air during the vacuum forming process?
The air is pumped out below the plastic and mould.
What features must a mould have to ensure a good product is formed?
A mould must have rounded corners and edges with a small radius.
This helps in preventing stress concentrations and ensures better flow of the material.
What is the required positive draft angle for a mould?
A mould must have a positive draft angle greater than 3° to ensure easy removal.
This angle helps in reducing friction during the removal process.
Why are vent holes necessary in a mould?
Vent holes must be drilled where there are dips in the profile.
This allows trapped air to escape, preventing defects in the final product.
What should be avoided regarding the profile depth of a mould?
A mould must not have too deep a profile.
Deep profiles can complicate the moulding process and lead to defects.
What finish should a mould have?
A mould must have a smooth finish.
A smooth finish reduces friction and improves the quality of the final product.
What feature should a mould avoid to ensure product quality?
A mould must avoid undercuts.
Undercuts can make it difficult to remove the product from the mould.
What is line bending?
Line bending is a means of creating a permanent fold in a piece of thermoplastic such as acrylic.
What equipment is used for line bending?
Strip heaters are used for line bending.
What types of products are often created using line bending?
Line bending is often used to create small products in the school workshop.
What are some examples of products made using line bending?
It is ideal for creating display stands, menu holders, and photo frames.
What scales of production does the line bending process lend itself to?
The text does not provide specific information on the scales of production for line bending.
What should be done before placing the polymer sheet on the strip heater?
Marking out should be done carefully and accurately.
How is the line marked on the polymer sheet?
A line is marked on the polymer sheet often using a chinagraph pencil or non-permanent marker.
What is the first step in the line bending process?
The strip heater is heated to temperature.
What is done with the marked line on the workpiece?
The marked line on the workpiece is placed across the heating strip.
What should be considered when using a strip heater in the workshop?
Health and safety considerations.
What factors influence the heating time of a polymer sheet in the line bending process?
The type and thickness of the polymer sheet.
None
What is done to the polymer sheet during the line bending process?
The polymer sheet is allowed to heat through.
None
How is the flexibility of the line tested in the line bending process?
The line is tested for flexibility and when ready, bent to the required angle.
None
What is done to the workpiece after it has set in the line bending process?
It can be cooled in a water tray.
None
What can be made to help ensure the polymer sheet is bent accurately?
A jig or template can be used to ensure accuracy.
None
What factors influence the heating time of a polymer sheet in the line bending process?
The type and thickness of the polymer sheet.
None
What is done to the polymer sheet during the line bending process?
The polymer sheet is allowed to heat through.
None
How is the flexibility of the line tested in the line bending process?
The line is tested for flexibility and when ready, bent to the required angle.
None
What is done to the workpiece after it has set in the line bending process?
It can be cooled in a water tray.
None
What can be made to help ensure the polymer sheet is bent accurately?
A jig or template can be used to ensure accuracy.
None