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April 1, 2022 By FBN Blog Leave a Comment

When you’re manufacturing a product, it’s important to choose the right molding method. These are the different types of part molding processes to create your products.

Reaction injection molding (RIM) uses thermosetting polymers by injecting them into a mixer and then a mold. The mixture then expands as it cures in the mold. RIM has a few advantages and disadvantages, but RIM is generally a versatile way to mold many types of products. RIM can mold large products, small products, products with varying wall thicknesses, and products with very detailed internal features. This makes RIM one of the most versatile molding processes.

In compression molding, the molding material, a thermosetting resin, is placed in a heated mold cavity which closes and forces the material into the mold with heat and pressure until it cures. Compression molding is a good molding option, but it struggles to make parts with difficult geometries. Parts made using the compression molding process generally have a simple and blocky shape. If you are looking to form a simple product with a blocky geometry, compression molding could be a great option for you.

Low-pressure molding uses materials to protect electronics from damage. A protective coating can go around the delicate electronic products while adding components without damaging the electronics with risky high pressure. Low-pressure molding can be great for delicate electronic parts. The coating can also prevent parts from future damage from the elements. d

In thermoforming, a thermoplastic sheet is heated until it’s soft and then stretched across a single-sided mold where it is vacuum-formed or pressure-formed over the mold and cools and cures into shape. Thermoforming can’t produce parts with varying wall thicknesses or internal details. If your product needs to vary in wall thickness or has fine internal details, thermoforming will not work for you. Still, thermoforming is a great method for molding the outside of a simple part.

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