Course detail

Polymer Prototypes

FSI-ZPP Acad. year: 2020/2021 Winter semester

Students will learn about the basic chemical nature and structural properties of polymer materials, plastic injection molding technology and design principles for the design of injection molds, vacuum molding technology of plastics and vacuum casting into silicon molds.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Learning outcomes of the course unit

– Ability to choose polymeric materials for components.<br />
– Ability to choose the technology of plastic part production.<br />
– Ability to respect technological limitations in the design of plastic parts.<br />
– Ability to produce a plastic prototype by molding or casting plastics.

Prerequisites

Knowledge and experience of design with CAD (Inventor, Catia, Rhinoceros, Creo Parametric), knowledge of design principles for castings.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is taught through lectures explaining the basic principles and theory of the discipline. Teaching is suplemented by practical laboratory work.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

– passing a theory test (max. 50 points),<br />
- active participation in exercises (max. 20),<br />
- submission of a technical report (max. 30 points).<br />

Aims

Graduates will be able to choose a suitable polymeric material and respect technological limitations in the design of plastic parts.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Attendance at lectures is recommended; attendance at laboratory practicals is obligatory and checked by the lecturer. Compensation of missed lessons depends on the instructions of course supervisor.

The study programmes with the given course

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

21 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

– Polymeric materials – classification, chemical nature, transition temperatures, rheology.
- Production of polymers, its properties, behavior and degradation.
- Injection molding – design of plastic components, gating systems.
- Injection molding – principles of plastic parts design, cooling of moulds.
- Injection molding – mechanical systems of injection moulds, moulds venting, examples of moulds design.
- Excursion to FCH – Laboratory of polymeric materials processing.
- Excursion to the Arburg company, manufacturer of injection molding machines and tools.

Laboratory exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

– Technological and design principles for the production of plastic parts by 3D printing, vacuum molding and casting into silicone molds.
– 3D printing of a plastic prototype using SLA technology.
– Vacuum molding of plastics, mold equipment.
– Vacuum casting of plastics into silicone molds.
– Verification of mechanical properties of materials produced by the mentioned technologies.
– Production of silicone mold, inlet system, mold deaeration.
– Silicone casting, mold tempering, prototype casting.
– Disassembly of the mold, identification of errors, modification of the mold.
– Verification of the properties of manufactured prototypes.