Molding The forming of a resin/fiber material into a solid mass of prescribed shape and size. Molding or casting is the process of manufacturing by shaping pliable raw material using a rigid frame or model called a mold.
Types of plastic molding processes
Injection molding
IM A repetitive process in which plastic is melted and injected into a mold cavity where the article is cooled down. After cooling, the mould opens and the article is ejected.
- Reaction Injection Molding RIM
- Liquid injection molding LIM
- Gas assist injection molding
- Co-injection molding
- 2-Shot Injection Molding
- Micro Injection Molding (micromolding)
Blow molding
BM Process of inflating a hot, hollow, thermoplastic preform or parison inside a closed mold so its shape conforms to that of the mold cavity. A wide variety of hollow parts, including plastic bottles, can be produced from many different plastics using this process.
- Stretch blow molding SBM
- Extrusion blow molding EBM
- Injection blow molding IBM
- Reheat blow molding RBM
Thermoforming or Vacuum forming
Thermoforming and vacuum forming are the process of heating a sheet of plastic and forming over a mold, often with the assistance of vacuum to bring the sheet into close contact with the mold. Once the sheet has cooled, it is removed from the mold. In this cooled state, it maintains the shape of the mold, and is then trimmed before being used. One of the most common type of mold is a Ceramic Composite mold, although wood, cast aluminum, and machined aluminum are used as well.
Other
- Rotational molding RM
- Laminating LM
- Expandable bead molding EBM
- Foam molding FM
- Vacuum plug assist molding VPAM
- Pressure plug assist molding PPAM
- Matched mold
- Contact molding
- Compression molding CM
- Transfer molding TM
- Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding VARTM
- Extrusion molding EX
- Dip molding
The Mold
A mold or mould is a hollowed-out block that is filled with a liquid like plastic, glass or metal. The liquid hardens or sets inside the mold, adopting its shape. A mold is the opposite of a cast (see casting). The manufacturer who makes the molds is called moldmaker or mouldmaker. One such mold maker of composite thermoforming molds is J&M Enterprises.