Rubber moulding is an industrial process that involves several steps. This process allows rubber to be moulded into complicated shapes and geometries. These designs are made to make the production process more cost-efficient. During the design phase, engineers must account for things like minimum draft angle and parting line location. These details will determine the success of the production process.
The first step of rubber moulding is to prepare the mould cavity. The mould is then heated and pressured to force the raw material inside it. The material expands until it fills the entire cavity of the mould. Next, the mould is allowed to cool down. Once the rubber has solidified, the part can be released from the mould cavity. For details on Rubber Moulding UK, go to a site like Meadex Rubber Moulding
In the medical industry, rubber moulded products are commonly used for gaskets and seals on equipment. These products can also be used to create tubing for the delivery of fluids. The advantages of rubber moulding over other materials include the ability to reuse and recycle.
Another advantage of rubber injection moulding is the ability to customise parts. This process allows for precise shapes and produces less rubber waste. It can also produce a variety of durometer shores (a measurement of the hardness of moldable rubber), ranging from soft and flexible to much harder. Flash, or thin layers of material, can also be eliminated with the use of cryogenic deflashing.
Injection moulding involves the most advanced method of moulding rubber products. It involves a reciprocating screw machine. The compound is fed to the screw via a hopper. The screw then forces the compound backward a prescribed distance. After this, the compound is pushed forward to a closed mould cavity. The compound is held in this position during the injection process in order to maintain pressure and consolidate the stock.
Compression moulding uses a two-part clamshell style mould. The raw material is poured into the mould cavity, where the mould is closed by applying pressure and heat. As the rubber compound heats up, it fills the mould cavity. Once the material has reached the desired temperature, it becomes hard and vulcanised. The resulting piece is then demoulded.
Rubber injection moulding uses a similar process to plastic injection moulding, except that the rubber is cured under a higher pressure per square inch of the mould cavity. This method is particularly useful when parts are required to have tight tolerances. It also produces highly accurate, reliable parts that have excellent mechanical properties.
