Identifying Plastics

http://www.modernplastics.com/how_to_identify_plastics.htm

 

How to Identify Plastics

Here is a preliminary guide that will help you to identify many of the basic types of plastics using simple techniques and readily available tools. Naturally, these tests should be used only for tentative identification because some complex plastic compounds require a rigorous analysis for identification.

To initially determine whether a material is thermoset or thermoplastic, heat a stirring rod (to about 500°F/260°C, the material is a thermoplastic; if not, it is probably a thermoset.

Next, hold the sample to the edge of a flame until it ignites. (Hold in the flame for about 10 seconds if no flame is produced immediately.) If the material burns, note the nature of the smoke, the presence of soot in the air and, if while burning, the sample drips.

Next, extinguish the flame and cautiously smell the fumes. (In identifying the odor, a known sample is most helpful for comparison.) Finally, check your observations against the known characteristics of each plastic given on page 93. Once you have made a tentative identification, it is usually desirable to make one additional test to confirm the results of the original identification. Remember additives may affect results; for example, flame retardants would mask the polymer's normal burning characteristics.

 

Materials	No Flame	Burns, but Extinguishes on Removal of Flame Source			Continues to Burn after removal of Flame Source				Remarks
	Odor	Odor	Color of Flame	Drips	Odor	Color of Flame	Drips	Speed of Burning
THERMOPLASTICS
ABS		Acrid	Yellow, blue edges	No	Acrid	Yellow, blue edges	Yes	Slow	Black smoke with soot in air
Acetals	-	-	-	-	Formaldehyde	Blue, no smoke	Yes	Slow
Acrylics	-	-	-	-	Fruity	Blue, yellow tip	No (cast) Yes (molded)	Slow	Flame may spurt if rubber modified
Cellulosics
Acetate	-	Vinegar	Yellow with sparks	No	Vinegar	Yellow	Yes	Slow	Flame may spark
Acetate Butyrate	-	-	-	-	Rancid butter	Blue, yellow tip	Yes	Slow	Flame may spark
Ethyl Cellulose	-	-	-	-	Burnt sugar	Yellow, blue edges	Yes	Rapid	-
Nitrate	-	-	-	-	camphor	White	No	Rapid	-
Propionate	-	-	-	-	Burnt sugar	Blue, yellow tip	Yes	Rapid	-
Chlorinated Polyether	-		Green, yellow tip	No	-	-	-	-	Black smoke with soot in air
Fluorocarbons
FEP	Faint odor of burnt hair	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Deforms; no combustion, but drips
PRTFE	Faint odor of burnt hair	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Deforms; does not drip
CTFE	faint odor of acetic acid	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Deforms; no combustion, but drips
PVF	acidic	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Deforms
Nylons
Type 6	-	-	-	-	Burnt wool	Blue, yellow tip	Yes	Slow	-
Type 6/6	-	Burnt wool or hair	Blue, yellow tip	Yes	-	-	-	Slow	More rigid than Type 6 nulon
Phenoxies	-	Acridd	Yellowc	Noc	Acridd	Yellowd	Yesd	Slowd	Black smoke with soot in air
Polycarbonates	-	Faint, sweet aromatic ester	Orange	Yes	-	-	-	-	Black smoke with soot in air
Polyethylenes	-	-	-	-	Paraffin	Blue, yellow tip	Yes	Slow	Floats in water
Polyphenylene
Oxides (PPO)	-	Phenol	Yellow-orange	No	-	-	-	-	Flame spurts; very difficult to ignite
Modified Grade	-	Phenol	Yellow-orange	No	-	-	-	-	flame spurts; difficult to ignite, soot in air
Polyimides	b	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Chars; material very rigid
Polypropylenes	-	Acrida	Yellowa	Yellowa	Sweet	Blue, yellow tip	Yes	Slow	Floats in water; more difficult to scratch than polyethylene
Polystyrenes	-	-	-	-	Illuminating Gas	Yellow	Yes	Rapid	Dense black smoke with soot in air
Polysulfones	-	b	Orange	Orange	-	-	-	-	Black smoke
Polyurethanes	-	-	-	-	b	Yellow	No	Slow	Black smoke
Vinyls   Flexible	-	Hydrochloric acid	Yellow with green spurts	No	-	-	-	-	Chars, melts
Rigid	-	Hydrochloric acid	Yellow with green spurts	No	-	-	-	-	Chars, melts
Polyblends
ABS/Polycarbonate	-	-	-	-	b	Yellow, blue edges	No	-	Black smoke with soot in air
ABS/PVC	-	Acrid	Yellow, blue edges	No	-	-	-	-	Black smoke with soot in air
PVC/Acrylic	-	Fruity	Blue, yellow tip	No	-	-	-	-
THERMOSETS
Alkyds	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Diallyl Phthalates	-	-	-	-	Phenolic	Yellow	No	Slow	Black smoke, cracks
Diglycol Carbonate	-	-	-	-	Acrid	Yellow	No	Slow	Black smoke with soot
Epoxies	-	-	-	-	Phenol	Black smoke	No	Slow	Black smoke with soot in air
Melamines	Formaldehyde and fish		-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Phenolics	Formaldehyde and phenolc	Phenol and wood or paperd	Yellowd	No	-	-	-	-	May crack
Polyesters	-	Hydrochloric acida	Yellowa	Noa	b	Yellow, blue edges	No	Slow	Cracks and breaks
Silicones	b	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Deforms
Ureas	Formaldehyde	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

 

a Flame retardant   b Nondescript   c Inorganic filler   d Organic filler

Ref: Materials Engineering, Penton/IPC, Cleveland, Ohio

 

Windows 10 apps in HoloLens look amazing and completely ridiculous

http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/29/8513561/microsoft-hololens-apps-build-2015

Getting Better 3D Prints

http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/30-getting-better-prints

 

Getting better prints

This page is meant to give a few tips that may help you improve your prints or just be helpful in general. Before reading this page it might be a good idea to check out our Visual troubleshooting guide. That page goes through some of the most common problems you might encounter. There will be a fair bit of overlap between this page and the troubleshooting guide as some of these tips are shared on that page to deal with actual problems. Think of these guides as problem fixing versus fine tuning.

If you've been printing for a while you'll likely already know most of the things mentioned in this document. But if you're new to 3D printing the tips here could be of great help.

It should also be noted that this page is skewed towards the Ultimaker2 using PLA filament, and cura as the slicer. A lot of the information here applies in other situations as well however.

Here's a list of links to the different sections in this document. We would recommend that you read through it all though as 3D printing is a complex process where a combination of settings and "tricks" is often needed for the best result.

 

Printer - Adjustments made to the hardware, or settings on the printer

·                     Basic machine maintenance

·                     Feed your printer with good quality filament

·                     Adjust temperature

·                     Limit heated bed temperature to a minimum

·                     Measure filament diameter

·                     Reduce acceleration

·                     Bed levelling

Cura - Tweaks relating to the slicer

·                     Use expert settings

·                     Learn to love the "Layer view"

·                     Choose layer thickness to match your model

·                     While boring, printing slower is often the key

·                     Increase shell thickness

·                     Print more than one model at once to increase cooling

·                     Use "Print one at a time"

·                     Enable "Cool head lift" for more cooling time

·                     Change how early your fans come on

·                     Optimize orientation to make it easier to print

·                     Retraction and combing

·                     Tricks to make a layer fill completely solid

·                     Print hollow to save plastic and time

·                     Z-scar

·                     Try different slicers

·                     Line support and bed leveling

·                     Support and object rotation

Design - A few thoughts on how to best design for printability

·                     Wall thickness

·                     The 45 degree rule

·                     Design custom supports instead of relying on auto generated to lessen surface

·                     Create a span instead of a steep overhang if possible

·                     Slopes and stair stepping

·                     Plastic shrinks

·                     Use chamfers to produce cleaner bottom edges

·                     A trick to create better looking top surfaces

 

This will change your life

https://www.google.com/get/cardboard/

 

GOOGLE CARDBOARD

Experience virtual reality in a simple,
fun, and affordable way.

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES FOR EVERYONE

GET A VIEWER

Get it, fold it and look inside to enter the world of Cardboard. It’s a VR experience starting with a simple viewer anyone can build or buy. Once you have it, you can explore a variety of apps that unfold all around you.

GET A VIEWER

GOT CARDBOARD?

Visit new places, play immersive games, fly through space and more.

GET APPS

 

Increase your sales by creating a Product Configurator with SOLIDWORKS

NPD Product Configurator  - Solidworks can do that, watch video.

http://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2015/04/solidworks-product-configurator-webinar/

Some neat punch tools

Packing a Wallop With the Punch

Selecting the right punching tools may eliminate secondary operations

CANADIAN INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY NOVEMBER 2012

NOVEMBER 13, 2012

BY: JOHN GALICH

Eliminating secondary processes in a fabricating operation is a way to reduce labor costs, which is good news for both the metal fabricator and, potentially, the customer.

Figure 1: Fully guided tooling doesn’t have to be fixed tooling. Some toolmakers offer models on which the overall length can be set without disassembly. The model shown can be adjusted in 0.002-in. (0.05-mm) increments.

Every CNC punching press has hidden power—it allows fabricators to eliminate many secondary operations. Discovering that hidden power requires the right tooling, proper process planning, and optimal operation of both the press and tooling.

Today's tooling is more advanced than ever, providing fabricators with the opportunity to streamline operations and reduce machine downtime. For example, the latest tooling designs allow fabricators to both improve edge quality of punched parts, while simultaneously reducing the chance for troublesome consequences if the machine is not operated properly. Just as important, special-application tools can create new part features previously not possible on most turret presses; this gives proc-ess planners one more tool to use when it comes to finding ways to cut manufacturing costs.

It's all about knowing what tooling is available and how to use it.

Eliminate Burrs and Rough Edges

Smooth, consistently punched edges are no accident. They are a constant challenge for every fabricator. The best initial insurance for good edge starts is using long-life tooling. This type of tooling, made with premium tool steel, has grooves that help to distribute lubricant evenly and eliminate the possibility of slugs. That combination helps to ensure that tooling life is maximized between grindings.

Of course, every toolmaker makes its own claim to "long life." The best advice is to check with successful fabricators to get the inside word. Follow their direction, and see if the same benefits result.

Another must is fully guided tooling, which adds the most assurance for quality edges on punched parts. Even when punching thick material like 0.25-inch mild steel or thin gauges of harder material, such as stainless steel, fully guided tooling directs the punch to the exact spot where material will be sheared and supports the punch so that it is centered relative to the die (see Figure 1). Because the punch is fully supported at the point of contact with the material, the punch tip does not enter the die off-center, creating a clean shear.

Once you have the right tooling in the turret press, thoughtful tooling usage will ensure quality results. Excessive burrs, poor hole quality, punch breakage, poor punch stripping, and galling can be caused by improper die clearance. So by setting die clearances right the first time, these common problems can be avoided.

Proper die clearance is determined by calculating the percentage of material thickness and adjusting it for different sheet metals. For example, mild steel might call for a die clearance of anywhere from 15 to 25 percent of material thickness, depending on just how thick the sheet—or even plate—is. Typically, die clearance charts provided by machine tool builders or tooling suppliers can show you the proper clearance quickly.

Dull punches and dies are another obvious but sometimes overlooked contributor to poor-quality punched parts. Regardless of how durable your tooling is, it was never meant to last forever without sharpening or being replaced. So refer to the press hit count indicator in the punching press at predetermined intervals to flag needed punch and die inspection and a timely trip to the tool grinder.

As previously mentioned, lubrication grooves designed into tooling can help to ensure that the punch is always protected as it hits the metal. For thick-material applications in which normal lubricant delivery is challenging, lubrication pads have been developed to keep punch tips lubricated. They insert easily into thick-turret tool assemblies and provide lubrication throughout the punching process, preventing galling. The lubricating pads also help to reduce heat buildup in the punch, which extends tool life.

Figure 2: This deburring tool smoothes out the rough edges of a punched contour, eliminating secondary deburring activities.

When burrs or rough edges are unavoidable, special tools help. One such proprietary tool relies on a special ball in both the upper and lower part of the tool to push the burr away, creating a slight radius that is smooth to the touch on the punched edge. The rolling ball tool works in conjunction with the programming capabilities of the punching press to ensure that the ram is down as it traces out the contour of the punched edge. Even contours such as small, tight corners can be processed with this type of tool (see Figure 2).

Eliminate Buildup on Tooling

Some materials are more challenging than others. The key to punching success is knowing what the tooling and press are capable of with a particular material.

One example is copper. While punching thin copper sheet is not an everyday fabricating challenge, doing it correctly points the way to good results when punching other challenging thin materials.

While very soft, copper is especially abrasive and can cause excessive wear on typical punch press tooling. Copper adheres easily to tooling components, particularly to punch flanks during stripping, causing all kinds of grief. The buildup of copper can distort punched parts and cause tools to wear prematurely. Extra tool cleaning and sharpening may be required to avoid this grief.

Most challenging when punching copper are narrow slots in sheets that are only slightly wider than the punch width. This type of part most often is used in printed circuit assemblies. With traditional, nontreated tooling, it would be impossible to punch extremely narrow slots in thin copper, but newer tooling designs with advanced coatings make it possible and relatively worry-free. This type of tooling has a reduced clearance between the punch and stripper of 0.0016 in. (0.04 mm)—traditional tooling's clearance is 0.0031 in. (0.08 mm) or greater. The tighter clearance and tooling coating allow for clean punching of the narrow slots at high press speeds—up to 700 hits per minute.

In this application, the tool coating is a multilayer zirconium titanium nitride that is hard, wear-resistant, and lubricious. Like all coatings, it acts as a barrier between the punch and the sheet metal. The coating is suitable for this type of copper punching application. The combination of tooling style and coating eliminates secondary operations by preventing burrs, bad edges, and distorted parts. It also eliminates expensive scrap parts caused by excessive material buildup on the punch
(see Figure 3).

Eliminate Fastening and Welding

Because welding is a costly fabricating operation and finding good welders is increasingly difficult, fabricators always are open to eliminating downstream welding if possible. They should be interested in what's possible in the punching press.

A tool is available that produces self-locking, spring-loaded tabs. They snap together securely into prepunched holes. No additional downstream assembly operations are needed.

The tool eliminates the need for welding connecting joints in the fabrication of electrical boxes, for example. Through preplanning, multiple components can be decreased to a single prepunched component that folds up and locks together. This tool also can be used on prepainted material, which would otherwise have to be painted following welding. This helps eliminate additional finishing operations (see Figure 4).

Eliminate Lock Washers and Speed Assembly

In some instances, punch tooling can help speed up the assembly process.

Figure 3: Specially treated tooling with reduced clearance between the punch and stripper is able to punch high quality narrow slots in copper sheets, normally a troublesome application.

For instance, tooling has been developed that fabricates forms that align with and hold hexagon-head bolts. It is an inverted, spring-loaded, triple lance and form tool system that can be used with a variety of head bolts and nuts in many thread sizes, including metric. The tooling provides a reliable and secure method of holding threaded fasteners in sheet metal for assembly.

The form accepts either a hexagon nut or the head of a hexagon bolt. A nut allows sheet metal parts to be assembled with a corresponding bolt from the reverse side of the part. Alternatively, the head of a bolt can be installed with the thread protruding through the sheet metal. In either method, the fastener is gripped securely between the punched forms to prevent nut rotation as the assembly is torqued together securely, eliminating the need for lock washers (see Figure 5).

Today's punching presses and tooling have features that eliminate several secondary operations, such as creating hinges or threading holes. The key is knowing what's available and how to use it.

www.mate.com

Figure 5: Assembly can be made easier with a punch tool that fabricates forms that align with and hold hexagon-head bolts. This tooling option provides a reliable and secure method of holding threaded fasteners in sheet metal for assembly.

 

Some pretty coloured LED lighting

 

http://www.bovalengineering.com.au/sheetmetal-display-boxes/

·                                  

·                                

Oct 10, 2013Boval EngineeringSheetmetal Display

 

Boval Engineering introduce their latest custom made LED Liquor Display Boxes; a unique product to display and highlight liquor bottles. The Liquor Boxes could be used for product releases, promotions or simply an attractive display cabinet. The LED liquor display boxes have been manufactured and assembled on site at Boval Engineering. The stainless steel enclosure has been combined with high grade Perspex. The added inclusion of an LED light enhances the look of the contents in the enclosure. The unit also has a dual lock incorporated to ensure the contents are safe and secure.

Manufacturing of the liquor display boxes involved a number of sheetmetal processes including metal bending, laser cutting and inserting. The enclosure was also polished to achieve the smooth brush finish. Final assembly also included electrical wiring of the LED light.

Boval Engineering can manufacture LED liquor display enclosures to any size or specification.

Display Boxes with LED Light

·                                 • Stainless Steel

·                                 • High Grade Perspex

·                                 • LED Lighting

·                                 • Dual lock system for security

·                                 • Custom made to specification

·                                  

 

Project Ara Prototype

Project Ara: hands-on with Google’s latest modular smartphone prototype

 

Right now, there’s a war to make the thinnest smartphone in the world. Google is a part of that with Android and with its Nexus devices. But it’s also attacking the very idea of smartphones as we know them with Project Ara: a project to build a phone that doesn’t cram everything into the smallest package, but one that lets you pick out and swap every important component. It’s a lot like the way many desktop computers still work — but for your pocket.

We just got our hands on a very, very early version of a Project Ara device. It’s come a long way since its introduction in 2013, and even more since Google showed it off at its developer conference last year. Now it looks less like something that came out of a 3D printer, and more like something you could actually use. Even so, it still has many months to go before you'll be able to go to a store and buy it.

 

http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/14/7547529/google-project-ara-prototype-hands-ontf

 

 

Colin Rose | Design Engineer | FPG
p: +64 6 843 3249 I f: +64 6 843 2466 I www.fpgworld.com
Au: 1800 041 649 I Asia: 0086 21 3351 3390 | NZ: 0800 367 374 | UK: 0044 845 485 9300