Sunday, December 8, 2013

Understanding The Structural Web Process

By Tiffany Gill


The structural web process is a process that is used in production of plastic parts. Glass assist as it is also known works through the injection of low amounts of pressure to the hollow parts. Through this injection, the parts produced tend to have varying degrees of thickness that are not only superior in terms of design, but also very reliable.

Resin is the first product to be injected in this process. Once its injection is complete, nitrogen gas is then introduced using injection as well. The injection of nitrogen gas is important in that it helps push out the molten plastic that may be stuck in the cavity walls.

Once the gas has been injected, it will follow a path known as that of least resistance. It will work to hollow out all the sections that are considered thick in nature. In so doing, it allows the designers working with the plastic unlimited flexibility in terms of creating products with different types of thickness.

Glass assist technology has opened a lot of possibilities for manufacturers and all the people who use plastic in different capacities. Limitations that were previously present in other forms of molding have also been done away with. New possibilities are also present.

Numerous benefits are present which manufacturers stand to enjoy by using this method. The main benefit has been that the overall weight of products has reduced greatly. Parts now weigh ten to thirty percent less of what they would have weighed had they been manufactured using different methods.

Products that are of a larger size can now be built using many smaller parts. Each of these parts will play a different function in the finished product. Producing large parts from smaller components also means that cost is greatly reduced while at the same time increasing the efficiency of the end product.

Appearance wise, glass assist has been very good as well. Plastic products made using this technology are not only efficient, but also better looking. They all come with a smooth exterior and an even glossier finish. This finishing is all thanks to the low pressure technology that has been utilised.

In normal injection that relied on high pressure injection there are certain products that cannot be used. Additives and resins that can be used are also highly limited. Glass assist has therefore made it possible to use different types of engineering with a lot of ease. High end products can easily be put in to good use.

Another additional benefit especially to designers is the fact that parts can be easily colored. Texturing is also possible which helps eliminate the additional cost that would have been incurred. Environmental concerns are also well addressed in this type of injection with a lot of ease. The environment is not harmed in any way.

Less energy is consumed using structural web process. This is partly due to the low pressure that has been used during manufacturing and production of the plastic parts. Fewer materials are used in manufacture but this does not affect the end product in any way. This is highly important to manufacturers.




About the Author:



No comments: