9450980 Farrell Industry requirements for graduates of a bachelors degree plastics engineering technology program must include skills in plastics materials, design and processing, and the graduate must also be prepared to develop and present new ideas. As a cornerstone to the program of study, the students 1) use leading edge computer technologies, including solid modeling, finite element analysis, mold flow, mold cooling and polymer flow, 2) have a comprehensive laboratory experience resulting in a understanding of the operation of processing machinery and proper processing condition to produce high quality parts, 3) are required to develop and manage an engineering project, 4) present the project before their peers and professionals in their field. The purpose of this proposal is to obtain modern laboratory plastics processing equipment that will substantially enhance the undergraduate plastics processing laboratory experience. The requests consists of an extrusion blow molder, a set of blow molds to demonstrate process capabilities, and the acquisition of a computer simulation package to relate simulation analysis and laboratory experience. The justification for this equipment is based on the innovative way in which it will be used to improve undergraduate students learning experience in plastics processing.
