Compression Hydraulic Presses, Compression Molding Process
This is the most widely used production method for molded rubber products. It is ideal for low to medium volumes and can be used for a largest variety of part sizes and materials, including high cost materials, and applications that demand extreme hardness. It is a very useful molding process for forming bulky parts, gaskets, seals and O-rings. It is also a very efficient, low waste method that offers the simplest process, lowest investment, and greatest flexibility. Compression molding generally results in lower amounts of scrap. It does not consume excess rubber in the runner of an injection mold, or in the pot of a transfer mold.
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The most commonly viewed drawbacks to compression molding are longer cycle times and costly labor costs. However, both of these can be addressed to equal or surpass the injection molding process. Cycle times for compression molded parts using preheated preforms can be less than for injection molded parts. Automated preform, loading/unloading, and post handling equipment can be integrated with a compression press to nearly equal the labor cost of injection.
Best suited for:
- Low to medium production volumes
- Medium to large sized parts
- Thick cross-sectional parts.
- Low to high durometer materials including very high hardness - Ideal
durometers 60A-90A
- More expensive rubber formations, and other high cost materials
- Molders who require quick tooling changeover.
Advantages over other methods:
- Lowest investment for tooling and machinery
- Shortest mold setup times make a perfect match for short production runs
- Internal stress is minimized, producing less warping
- Ability to process very stiff, high durometer materials
- Generates less waste than other production methods
- Ability to process thin to large thick parts
- Greatest flexibility in molding various part sizes and materials
- Less shrinkage of material leads to greater accuracy of parts
- More cavities per mold are possible as lower molding pressure is required
Disadvantages:
- Requires a preform (a pre-measured slug of material)
- Can produce a higher rate of dimensional inconsistency
- Generally produces the largest parting line
- Flash removal requires a secondary operation
- Typically the most labor intensive, but can be automated to nearly equal
injection.
Learn more about compression molding on French hydraulic presses:
Compression Hydraulic Presses — Other Compression Press Processing Applications
Compression presses are used in virtually every molding application from various thermoset to thermoplastics, including laminates and composites. There are many others processes that can use compression presses in a stand only condition, or in combination with auxiliary material dispensing systems.
Learn more about Cast Molding and Compaction Molding.
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Molding Processes | Compression Press Molding | RIM Molding |
Transfer Molding Press | Injection Molding
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