Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, trainees will be able to:
- Understand EBM Polymers: Identify the properties and limitations of materials like HDPE/PP and PCR manage regrind effectively and prevent material issues like moisture and contamination.
- Operate Extruders Safely: Execute correct start-up and shut-down procedures and manage heating/temperature controls.
- Control the Parison: Program parison profiles for weight and radial wall thickness, adjust head tooling (die/pin/core), and resolve parison faults like bending or sagging.
- Manage Moulds & Tooling: Understand mould cooling, venting, and blow pressures, as well as successfully complete tool changeovers and routine mould maintenance.
- Troubleshoot Production Faults: Systematically identify and rectify common defects (Orange Peel, Burn/Drag/Die lines, Holes, shrinkage, distortion, weak welds, holes) by adjusting short and long-term variables like temperatures, speeds, pressures, and timers.
Who the course is aimed at
As an introductory module, this course is highly adaptable but primarily aimed at:
- Machine Operators and Setters who are new to EBM or need to formalise their on-the-job training.
- Process Technicians responsible for optimising machine cycles, reducing scrap, and troubleshooting daily production faults.
- Quality Control (QC) Personnel who need to understand how process variables (like temp and pressure) impact the final product quality. Understanding what is and what isn’t possible in the EBM process. Understanding typical faults i.e. neck ovality, dimensional issues, contamination and Orange Peel
- Maintenance Engineers or Production Supervisors looking for a solid grounding in the mechanics, tooling, and operation of Extrusion Blow Moulding machinery.