Rubber Molding Benefits

Among the different molding methods, some are better suited for specific applications. For example, injection molding provides the following benefits:

1. Elimination of most labor saves time and cost and adds machine driven consistency.

   The process of creating and placing pre-formed rubber in a mold is laborious and time-consuming and can significantly affect turnaround and production costs. Additionally, as the initial pre-form largely determines the weight and shape of the end product, it must be produced to precise and accurate specifications.

   Compression and transfer molding require the use and placement of pre-formed materials in the molding cavity or pot. Rubber injection molding and liquid injection molding don’t. Instead, the method requires the raw material to be machine processed for direct injection into the molding cavity. This reduces the amount of time manufacturers and molding service providers need to invest in a project before starting the actual molding operation and eliminates the step of manually placing the material into the mold and may be able to eliminate removal of parts from a mold using labor. The machine cycle repeats consistently and is not technician dependent. A consistent processing cycle usually produces consistent repeatable products.

2. Machine driven processing of the raw material allows for faster production times.

    The rubber molding processes require the control of both temperature and pressure. In injection molding operations, the raw material is processed before it is injected into the mold, which reduces its viscosity and allows it to flow more easily into the mold cavities. Additionally, the temperature control of the material jumpstarts the curing process, allowing for decreased cure times. Together, these qualities result in overall faster cycle and production times.

   The precise nature of the LIM process and its closed loop system for material delivery and processing provide for very accurate control of material into what some people would consider to be impossible part geometries to create, faster cycle times, and repeatable parts.

3. Injection molding can be more cost-effective.

    Compared to other molding methods, injection molding is more economical, especially for high volumes of medium to high complexity products. Some of the qualities that make injection molding more cost-effective include:

·Faster production times (reducing production costs)

·Lower error rates (reducing the number of runs and re-runs required to meet an order)

·Less damage to molds during production (minimizing the need for mold replacement)

·Less material waste (reducing overall material costs)

4. Compression and Transfer molding have advantages.

For the right part design, both of these processes have distinct advantages over injection molding.

·Lower up-front tooling cost

·Low set-up cost.

·Smaller batches of material are available for lower up-front cost.

·Both processes are capable of making accurate, excellent quality parts.

·Insert molding

·Many color options.

·Custom compounding of materials.

·Testing or manufacture of parts using liquid silicone rubber allows ramp up into liquid injection molding.