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Real-Time Roughness Scanner for Polymer Webs New Injection Molding Certificate Program for Process Engineers & Technicians The American Injection Molding (AIM) Institute, Erie, Pa., has launched a brand-new Injection Molding Certificate Program. It supplements the AIM Institute's short courses that provide focused, subject-specific knowledge on topics such as Mold Start-Up, Debug, and Understanding Shrink and Warp. It also differs from the Institute's intensive Plastics Technology and Engineering (PTE) Certifi- cate Program, designed for plastics professionals of all types to rigorously examine each of the "four pillars of injection molding"— polymer materials, mold design, part design, and processing. The new certificate program is aimed specifically at process engineers and technicians responsible for actual molding, who are looking to take a much deeper dive into the molding process. This course adapts sections from the PTE program that apply directly to the molder and expands them by adding more hands-on learning and troubleshooting content. "This program is designed not only to teach molders how to set up and transfer processes between molding machines, but also how to be more creative and become better at troubleshooting," says Dr. John Beaumont, founder and president of the AIM Institute and of Beaumont Technologies in Erie. "Our students are guided to apply critical thinking to determine the root causes of molding issues and to address them directly rather than applying less robust symptomatic fixes." Lead course developer and instructor Jason Travitz adds, "A molder should be able to move beyond a predetermined process methodology and react creatively to each new mold, product, and polymer." Students spend an initial week in the classroom and lab, and then return home for five weeks of homework and online reviews before returning for a second week of hands-on focused learning and two days of final exams. 866-344-9694 • aim.institute INJECTION MOLDING EXTRUSION The MicroProfiler MP 9000 from FocalSpec Inc. of Finland (U.S. office in Cumming, Ga.) is an on-line surface-roughness measurement system for polymer webs. The MP 9000 is based on the firm's patented Line Confocal Imaging (LCI) technology that enables continuous, non-contact, 3D surface imaging of fast-moving transparent, non-transparent, matte, and glossy web structures, such as PVB films, sheets, laminates, and coatings. The system's LCI sensor, mounted on a traversing frame, automatically scans for the web's microtopography across its full width. The system freezes and analyzes the actual 3D surface profile at a high rate and calculates the standard roughness parameters including Ra, Rz, and RSm. Roughness results are displayed in real time and operators are alerted to unusual process changes, enabling instant corrective actions. If desired, the measurement data can be used in closed-loop machine control. All results from the entire length of each roll are stored in the system's database for quality certification and production reporting. In addition to surface roughness, LCI sensors can measure other 3D characteristics such as surface texture, thickness, edge height, wrinkles, and folds, the company says. 770-713-0837 • focalspec.com 70 SEPTEMBER 2017 Plastics Technology PTonline.com Keeping Up W it h Technolog y