As the name suggests, rubber moulding refers to any number of moulding techniques used to produce parts made from rubber.
Common processes used to create rubber parts include injection moulding (where the molten material is injected into the mould cavity), transfer moulding (where the exact required amount of material is forced from a transfer chamber into the mould cavity) and compression moulding (where the material is placed in the open mould cavity and then forced into the cavity area when the mould is closed). The process used will depend upon the component design, as well as batch sizes and tooling costs.
Various grades of rubber can be moulded, including neoprene, EDPM, silicone and nitrile.
Used to produce
Moulded components made from rubber.
Materials
Various grades of rubber can be moulded, including neoprene, EDPM, silicone and nitrile.
Advantages
The rubber moulding process can be quite versatile, as there are a number of techniques that can be used depending upon the component design, as well as batch sizes and tooling costs.
Disadvantages
Disadvantages vary depending on the process being used, but can include high tooling costs, material wastage, unsuitability for smaller batch runs and the need for secondary operations.