Christopher S Roth

US Patent:

20050067084, Mar 31, 2005

Filed:

Sep 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/933237

Inventors:

Val Kagan - Morristown NJ, US
Christopher Roth - Madison NJ, US

International Classification:

B29C045/00
B29C045/16
B32B031/00

US Classification:

156064000, 264040100, 264255000, 264297200, 264328100, 428057000

Abstract:

A thermoplastic article is produced by welding or injection molding. The mechanical performance of the article is optimized by a method employing a plurality of test samples also produced by welding or injection molding. For welding, each test sample comprises two thermoplastic workpieces welded at an interface having a preselected shape. The test samples are prepared using different welding conditions and tested. The results are used to select injection molding conditions for the first and second workpieces. For injection molding, each test sample is prepared with a knit line having a preselected shape. The test samples are injection molded using different conditions and tested. The results are used to select welding conditions for the first and second workpieces. The test samples are much easier to prepare than samples that have to be machined from full-scale articles made under the requisite variety of experimental conditions heretofore required for process optimization. As a result, the performance of full-scale articles is more easily and expeditiously optimized.