Dip moulding is used to produce hollow parts made from plastic. As the name suggests, dip moulding refers to the process of dipping a mould in a bath of molten plastic so that the mould is entirely coated. The mould is then removed from the bath and left to cool - once the surrounding plastic has solidified, the component is then separated from the mould.
Dip moulding is slightly more limited in terms of materials, with the most common material used being plastisol. In addition, silicone, latex and polyurethane can also be dip moulded. Generally, a material with a degree of elasticity needs to be used to ensure that the component can be separated from the mould without damage.
Dip moulding is a relatively cost-effective moulding method thanks to cheap tooling costs. It also facilitates a fast turnaround time and affords the production of complex shapes. However, there can be some inconsistencies in the thickness of the material - furthermore, dip moulding is unsuitable for larger components.
