Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: Newbie question re: Multi-coloured injection moulding of silicone/ rubber material

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1

    Lightbulb Newbie question re: Multi-coloured injection moulding of silicone/ rubber material

    Hi folks,

    I'm a product designer/ open innovation business owner, and one of my recent products is a small, compact & low-detail silicone/rubber item in a basic geometric shape, such as a pyramid, cube or hemisphere, to be mounted on a circular base which is a separate component. The geometric shape component would essentially be amenable to injection moulding, but I have a question regarding certain capabilities of the process, in terms of generating a multi-colour outcome in the final product.

    I fully accept that I'm a complete newbie, and have only basic knowledge of the injection moulding process. If you could please frame any responses in that context (my expression would be blank in the face of technical info!) I would hugely appreciate it.

    So here's the problem: I have a cube-shaped component created by an injection moulding process - this cube would need to look and feel like a single piece of silicone or other rubber material, but would have slightly raised detailing on all surfaces. This raised detailing is highlighted in a darker tone of the overall colour in which both detailing & the main body of the component are designed - so raised red detailing, pink cube, for example. My question is whether the injection moulding process can be used to create those raised details in the way described, in a darker tone of the overall 'lighter tone, same colour' material (which would be silicone, or some other fairly similar rubber)..? Additionally, and most importantly, whether this would be feasible in the case of a mass-production process...?

    If there was a faint skin of the darker tone material spread out in the space between the raised features, that wouldn't be a problem, as the main body of the cube would be a lighter tone of the same colour - so for example, if it was a cube with red detailing, the main body would appear to be pink - hence a skin of the red material, stretched over white colour silicone for the main body of the cube, would be acceptable as the appearance of the detailing would end up as red on pink, exactly as designed. My instinct tells me that this would be difficult to achieve in the sense of mass production, but I would love to hear that I'm totally wrong!

    Would very much appreciate your expert thoughts on the matter.

    Thanks in advance,


    Simon.
    Deus_Ex Design (UK) Ltd

  2. #2

    Smile Re: Newbie question re: Multi-coloured injection moulding of silicone/ rubber material

    Did I commit a faux pas due to lack of process knowledge? Even if I'm way off the mark, I'd really appreciate a heads-up to that effect...


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    McMinnville, OR
    Posts
    172

    Re: Newbie question re: Multi-coloured injection moulding of silicone/ rubber material

    The only way I could think to do that would be a 2 shot method or overmolding. I haven't had much experience with that other than doing some over molding of parts. Might be doable, but can it be painted instead? might be easier.

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •