Get $800 off
Master Molder ^SM classes
Thinking about taking Master Molder I or II? Here's an incentive for you. If you have molds that aren't being used, in exchange for donating them to RJG's training lab, we will take $800 off the price of the Master Molder courses being held this January and February. E-mail training if you are interested or would like additional information.

College Credit for
Master Molder^SM classes
Master Molder students can now get college credit towards the Advanced Processing and Robotics Certification through Mount Wachusett Community College in Massachusetts. Students will get 3 credits for Master Molder I and 2 credits for Master Molder II classes taken onsite at RJG. Class credits are transferable into the associates program. Please contact Sandra Fischer for further information.

Hidden Risks of Tool Transfers
Check out PlasticsToday.com for the first 2 articles of the 4-part article series on the hidden risks of tool transfers written by RJG's own consultants:

Part 1:
What are the hidden risks of tool transfers?

Part 2:
Assessing risk in Part Design

New Payment Plan Option
RJG is now offering a 24 month payment plan on the eDART apex, eDART conx, EDM, and Shuttle and Valve Gate Software.

Pricing breaks down as follows:
eDART apex $565/mo.each*
eDART conx $405/mo.each*
eDART conx Refurbished $300/mo.each*
eDART Data Manager $175/mo.
Shuttle Software $90/mo.
Valve Gate Software $90/mo.

*Minimum 4 eDARTs.
*eDART Training is included .
Contact Inside Sales for Details.

Dollars for DartScanners™
RJG is currently offering a $2,000 credit towards the trade-in of your DartScanner or DT box(es) to use towards the purchase of an eDART System™. Please contact RJG for further information.

RJG offers MAPP members
new benefits
RJG, Inc. is offering MAPP members a one-time only free admission to an RJG eLearning course, which brings comprehensive versions of scientific molding training courses directly to you via the internet. No traveling, lots of knowledge. This is as close to a classroom setting as possible, with live interactive elements and plenty of Q&A time with the best processing instructors in the world. If you are not a MAPP member this one-time offer would pay for a large percentage of the dues.

In addition to the one time free admission to eLearning, MAPP members also qualify for a 10% discount to all of RJG's public courses (excludes the Train the Trainer course).

For more information about RJG’s training programs visit the training section of our website. For more information on the discount contact RJG's training department.

For more information about MAPP membership visit their website.

More Info Links...
RJG Training Schedule
Contact the RJG Training Department
RJG Articles Online
Training Assessment Testing
RJG on YouTube
Sign up for Art's Tips

How to Take Melt Temperature
The recommendation of how to take the melt temperature has changed from the 30/30 method to the following:

1. Get machine on cycle for approximately ½ hour (roughly the time to collect data for a shear rate / viscosity curve).
2. After a normal screw recover during an automatic or semi-automatic cycle in which the selected backpressure and screw R.P.M.'s are applied, back off injection unit and purge into / onto something that is insulated for collection purposes.
3. Grab purge with a protected glove, and immerse a thin, high speed (thin probe), thermocouple probe into the melt. Currently the probes provided by EDL are the recommended ones. These are responsive enough where preheating the probe is unnecessary. Make sure you keep moving the probe inside the purge back and forth as well as round and round in the thickest areas of the purge patty so that the plastic doesn't freeze on the probe during the test. If you simply stick the probe into the purge and let it sit, the melt directly in contact with the probe will solidify insulating the probe which may not allow the highest temperature to be detected.
4. If your temperature meter has a peak hold feature, turn it on before inserting the probe into the melt. You should initially read the ambient (room) temperature, once the probe is placed into the melt and moved around the meter will hold the highest temperature detected, usually this occurs in less than 30 seconds. If no peak hold feature is available on your meter, read the temperature from meter after 30 seconds, or as the temperature levels off to a peak value before cooling occurs. We have found that using a meter with a peak hold feature provides the best repeatability from person to person.

Here are a few reasons we did away with using a torch. First, the safety concern of an open flame in someone's hand that might not be paying attention to their surroundings, may cause injury to others or damage to property. Next is the inconvenience of not having a torch available to use. Another problem that occurred which led to the switch is that the probes were regularly overheated.  And due to this overheating, the probes would not last as long, if not burn out right away. Finally, the switch was done since the thinner probes provide better accuracy, taking some of the guess work out of getting the temperature just right, like with the 30/30 method.

Tip of the Day #144: “Fill Speed? I used the Rheology Curve.”
Here is a phrase I hear from molders that have used in-mold rheology curves since the early days of Rod Groleau’s and John Bozzelli’s teaching. At the risk of a backlash from those committed to this method I offer the following argument that the rheology curve does not select the fill speed for you. The attached PowerPoint presentation takes you through the steps with each click.

Where on the curve do you set the speed? The “flat” part? The “knee”? Do you throw darts at it? Or select a spot just a little to the left of the end in the flat? How flat is flat enough? Doesn’t it depend on scaling? How slow you ran to the highest viscosity? How about using the least pressure point? And do others in your company use the same methods?

The language above is anything but scientific. RJG has always said that you should fill “as fast as possible consistent with quality.” This has not changed. The rheology curve, then, is a sort of record of shear rate and viscosity onto which you can mark the chosen speed. You can keep this in a book for reference in case you need to change fill speeds in the future or to compare to a different lot of material...
For more on the Rheology Curve: Sign up for Art's Tips

The eDART has a new look
If you order an eDART you may notice some changes with the hardware. This new enclosure now supports the three different software options: eDART conx™for process stabilization, eDART flx ™ for part containment, and eDART apex™ for advanced process control. For details and pricing on the three eDART software modules contact Inside Sales.