A large plate onto which a mold half is mounted. Typically, one platen is stationary, while the other is movable. A larger machine typically has larger platen dimensions and can therefore accommodate a larger mold.
The percent change in length of a specimen under a given load. Elongation is usually measured within a fixed distance (50 mm or 2 in.) near the point of yield or failure, not over the entire length of the specimen.
Pitch is a measure of the spacing between threads. The English standard is to measure pitch as the number or threads per inch (TPI), while the Metric standard is the distance in millimeters (mm) between threads.
The amount of time that machines are running during the manufacture of parts, also called the run time. The uptime is often expressed as a percentage of the total production time, which includes the down time.
The amount of time required to setup a process before production begins. The setup time may include the preparation of the material, machine, and tooling, as well as any testing or calibration that is needed.
A specific task or step during the production of parts in a manufacturing process. Many processes, such as machining, sheet metal fabrication, or assembly require a carefully planned sequence of operations.
The hourly rate that is charged for running a piece of manufacturing equipment, excluding any labor costs. The machine rate may include the equipment cost, auxiliary costs, maintenance, plant overhead, etc.
A part defect, sometimes called hot cracking, which describes cracks that result from shrinkage. If a part is not allowed to shrink freely and encounters an obstruction, the solidified material will crack.
