Types of Manufacturing Processes Used in Making Rubber Products
Types of Manufacturing Processes Used in Making Rubber Products
Just as mentioned earlier, there are various processes involved in the rubber parts manufacturing process. In most cases, the rubber product design determines which of these manufacturing processes will be suitable for the part production. Each of these production techniques has its advantages, making them specialized for making different types of rubber products. Fully understanding each of these processes helps make the best choice for which to use in your production process in terms of costs, level of technicality involved, and the suitability with the production at hand. While there are quite a few of them, we’ll discuss the popular processes which involve molding: injection molding, transfer molding, and compression molding.
Injection Molding
This is similar to the plastic injection molding process. However, the rubber injection molding process involves much more heating. The process involves the machinist heating the material into a flowing state. Then, they inject the material under pressure from the heating chamber through a series of channels (known as sprues or runners) into the mold. The heating unit and injection unit are also two separate components, with each having its own controls.
An extruder component can also serve as the heating unit in this process. As long as the designers and manufacturers get the mold design and other components of the machining process right, the rubber injection molding process doesn’t usually take much time. Automation is also a common feature of this process, which speeds up the lead time. At RapidDirect, we can handle all types of injection molding processes regardless of the desired materials.
Compression Molding
This method is the oldest and also the least cost-intensive. In this process, the raw rubber is formed into a large mass (known as a blank). The machinist then places this blank into the mold and heats it to cure and shape it. Now, this is where the design of the mold for rubber parts is an important factor. Due to the need for curing, the heating time can take a while.
However, this depends on the thickness of the mold walls. Hence, the designer makes the rubber mold walls proportionate to the amount of time wanted for heating. Therefore, the heating time can vary from minutes (for thin walls) to hours (for thick walls). This method is suitable for production using raw materials with bad flow properties and high viscosity. However, the process can be quite time-consuming. Electrical insulators, seals, and silicone wristbands are examples of rubber products made using this rubber part manufacturing process.
Transfer Molding
This rubber part manufacturing process aims to counter the long heating time involved in compression molding. The process also involves using a blank, which is loaded into the mold and distributed into the different cavities. However, before distribution into the cavities, the rubber undergoes some preheating. This process reduces the curing time of the rubber and increases its flow properties, hence allowing it to fill the cavities easily. However, the molds here are the most expensive and complicated. Hence, the rubber mold design here should be handled by experts only.
At RapidDirect, we specialize in different types of molding processes; hence, your rubber mold design and rubber product manufacture are guaranteed success.
Each rubber part manufacturing process is suitable for manufacturing different rubber parts. Hence, having a good understanding of each will help decide which one is the best option for your part production.
