Blow Molded Specialties Internship

Blow Molded Specialties Internship
535 Prospect Street | Pawtucket, RI 02860 | Tel: (401) 723-3000 | Fax: (401) 723-3104
Contact: Tom Boyd

Blow Molded Specialties is an extrusion blow molding firm based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Since 1988 BMS has been a leader in custom blow molding for the medical device, healthcare, and food packaging industries and beyond. One of BMS’ fields of expertise is in the development and manufacture of bellows; we manufacture approximately 40, all varying is size, material and specification requirements.

With this being said, the product design team is currently stymied with an engineering problem related to a large cylindrical bellows, and is seeking a student intern to research a solution.
This is an excellent opportunity for a student to gain first-hand experience in researching and identifying a solution to an engineering issue, while working closely with the engineering team and within the framework of a manufacturing environment.

The company manufactures a cylindrical bellows that collapses like an articulating straw. The problem bellows is larger in diameter but is intended to function in the same manner, with controlled articulation. However, the larger bellows does not behave the same way; it collapses, but not completely and it will not stay collapsed as the smaller one does.
The company has studied the plastic itself and finds no difference between the two sizes of bellows, leading to the conclusion that the difference has to do with the geometric configuration of the larger bellows. The company has access to an optical comparator, as well as drawings and CAD files of the two bellows.

A student intern will be asked to analyze the control samples and CAD files, do a sample match of the CAD files and attempt to determine the significant differences between the two items. The ultimate aim, of course, is to identify the solution to manufacturing the larger bellows in a manner that permits controlled articulation and maintains the closed position when desired.