10.1.12.

Rubber Design, Rubber Molding Processes, Rubber Molding Factors

custom molded rubber

Rubber Classification and Design Molding Processes
o-rings and rubber seals

O-Ring Home
ASTM D2000 Classification Molding Applications
O-Ring Store
bu online ASTM D2000 Material Designation Compression Molding
Custom O-Ring RFQ Form
Factors Affecting Tolerances Transfer Molding
O-Rings Sizes
AS568A O-ring Sizes Injection Molding
Metric O-Ring Sizes
O-Rings By Materials
ASTM D2000 Standard Classification System for Rubber Products used in Automotive Applicati
Nitrile
HNBR This type of classification tells the engineer the properties of a particular Line Call-Outs
EPDM rubber material that is intended for, but not limited to, automotive applications. SI -
Fluorocarbon This classification is designed so rubber products can be arranged into The letter M is used to indicate that
Neoprene characteristic material designations. The purpose of this is to provide based on SI units. Any other prefix r
Butyl
guidance in the selection of a particular rubber material, and specifying the classification system based on inch-
Fluorosilicone
Silicone
materials by using a simple method called Line Call-Outs. All classifications
and descriptions of the corresponding prefix or numbers can be referenced a Type and Class
Speciality Elastomers
specific ASTM D2000 table that can be found at astm.org Type refers to heat resistance and C
Polyacrylate
SBR resistance. Type (indicated by the le
Natural Rubber example) is based on tensile strengt
Product Example %, elongation no more than -50 %, h
O-Ring Technical Resources ASTM D 2000 M2BC 507 A14EO34 than 15 points, after being heat age
O-ring Design temperature at which the test must b
O-ring Gland Design represented by the prefix under type
corresponding value. Class is the res
Special Services - O-Rings material in an ASTM oil No.3 after 70
O-Ring Coatings testing designated from the previous
Assembly
Hardness -
rubber bellows The letter designations are always fo
digit number that specify the hardnes
vibration isolators & mounts
strength. The first digit indicates the
formed rubber hose hardness, the nest two digits indicat
strength
rubber materials

Grade Numbers and Suffix Re

Grade Numbers are used when the b
are not sufficient enough for a particu
Grade number of one indicates that o
requirements are necessary any oth
express deviations or additional requ
are found in the example below the s
header. Suffix Letters - meanings ca
corresponding ASTM tables. Suffix N
suffix letter should be followed by tw
the first digit represents the test met
second represents the heat at which
Type and Class Polymer Usage - This table is a reference
for the Classification System D 2000-SAE J200 and is not For referenced ASTM standards, visi
part of the system itself website, www.astm.org, or contact A
Service at service@astm.org.

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10.1.12. Rubber Design, Rubber Molding Processes, Rubber Molding Factors

Factors Affecting Tolerances

Shrinkage Mold Design

Defined as the difference between the corresponding linear dimensions and
the molded part, is applicable to all rubber products. All rubber material
experience some amount of shrinkage and it is up to the mold designer and
the compounder to determine the amount of shrinkage the material will
exhibit and incorporate this allowance into the mold cavity size. Shrinkage
itself is a variable and is affected by such factors as material specification,
cure time, temperature, pressure etc. The skill of the rubber manufacture is
to limit these variables however, they cannot be eliminated entirely.
Molds can be designed at varying degrees of prec
at the same cost. With any mold their must be s
therefore each cavity will have some variance from
accuracy of the mold register must also be consi
matching of the various plates of the mold that for
Products requiring a high degree of precision, in b
and the registrar require more precise design wor
and therefore increasing the overall price.

Environments Storage Conditions Insert

Humidity: Some rubber material absorb moister, therefore the dimensions Most inserts actually have their own standard tole
are affected be the amount of moister the product absorbs. This can be used in rubber materials other factors must be co
prevented by storing the product in a controlled environment or having fit in the mold, cavities, location of the insert, hole
additional tolerances. Temperature: Compared to other materials the with mold pins etc.
coefficient of expansion in rubber is high. To have an agreement in
measurement the temperature at which the product is to be measured at
and the time required to stabilize the part at that temperature

Distortion
Seeing that rubber is a flexible material, its shape can be affected from such
thins as removal from the mold, shipping and temperature changes. A good
way to help prevent such distortion is to let the finished product sit at room
temperature for 24 hours before shipping, other actions can be discussed
with the rubber manufacture.

Trim & Finish

The objective of trimming and finishing a product is to remove excess
material, such as flash, which is not part of the finished product. For a more
precise trim mechanical finishing may control the finished dimensions.

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10.1.12. Rubber Design, Rubber Molding Processes, Rubber Molding Factors
Molding Processes

Producing a successful product begins with a proper design. Many of Columbia's customers will partner with us for our expertise in too
well designed tool will not only maximize the end products performance but also minimize the cost of production. At Columbia Enginee
Inc. our molding capabilities include the three major molding process: transfer molding, compression molding and injection molding. W
the right molding application for your product based on several key factors including, but not limiting to; the size, shape and number of
desire. Here at Columbia we will not only find the correct molding application but the most cost efficient one as well. The following is a
summary of the different molding applications Columbia offers

Compression Molding

Compression molds are the least complex of thermal set molding

and can vary in size, shape and complexity, as well as, the
number of cavities it contains. The molding process begins with a
piece of uncured rubber perform which is shaped to the
approximate size and shape of the desired part, and is placed
directly in the mold cavity prior to mold closure. The rubber is
then compressed between the top and bottom plates and heated.
Causing the compound to flow, filling the cavities and spilling out
into overflow grooves. The uncured rubber must weigh more than
the finished part in order to rid of all the air.
This type of molding process offers lower tooling and set-up

costs, short molding cycles, lower unit cost, little to no flash and
reduced waste
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Transfer Molding

The transfer molding process beginning with the uncured rubber

placed in a transfer plate located above the cavity area, rather
than being placed directly in the cavity as in compression
molding applications. heat is then applied to the rubber and
transferred from the transfer plat, being pushed through a gate by
a piston, into the cavity where the rubber is then vulcanized using
heat and pressure.
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Injection Molding

The injection molding process is the most automated application.

The rubber material is heated to a easily flowing state and then
injected under pressure from the heating chamber to the mold.
This application is most applicable for high volume production.
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10.1.12. Rubber Design, Rubber Molding Processes, Rubber Molding Factors

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