Overmolding: Mold Design

• Mold Construction
• Tool Layout
• Runner Configuration and Design
• Hot Runner Systems
• Gate Design
• Comparison of Gate Types

Mold Construction                               

For high volume production, the initial expense of quality tooling is a sound investment. The choice of tool steel will depend on the quantity and quality of parts to be produced and will be primarily determined by the type of rigid substrate being used in the application. If a reinforced substrate material is used a high hardness abrasion resistant steel may be required.

Most GLS materials overmolding materials are generally non-abrasive / non-corrosive and replicate the mold surface fairly well.

• A polished mold is required to produce a glossy or good clarity surface.
• To produce a part with a matted appearance of a thermoset rubber, a rougher mold surface is required. In general, the rough surface produced when EDM the cavity will produce a good surface and good release from the mold.
• Vapor honing, sand or bead blasting and chemical etching may also be used to produce surfaces with varying degrees of gloss and appearance.
• To aid in release, the cavity or core may be coated with a release coating such as PTFE impregnated nickel after it has been given a sand blast or EDM finish.

Tool Layout                               

Multi-cavity tool layouts should be balanced. In a balanced runner system, molten material flows into each cavity at equal times and pressure. Examples of balanced spider and cross-runner systems are shown in the figures below:

Runner Configuration and Design       

For conventional cold runner tools, full-round runners are best because they provide the lease resistance to flow and minimize cooling in the runner. Cooling is minimized because full round runners have less surface area and therefore keep the material molten longer.

The second most efficient runner cross-section is the modified trapezoid. This type of geometry most closely simulates a full round runner but only requires machining in only one plate.

Runner dimensions rarely exceed 0.300" even for the main runner. Cold slug wells should be used each time the runner makes a turn or divides.

The figure below illustrates typical runner dimensions:

Hot Runner Systems   

Hot runner tool layout should be naturally or geometrically balanced. Externally heated manifolds are best. Internally heated systems, which use torpedo heaters, are not recommended because they have hot spots, stagnation zones and partially solidified material clinging to the walls.

All passages should have highly polished circular cross sections with gentle bends to minimize the possibility of stagnation zones, and a diameter of 0.250" to 0.375". Individualized zone controls will allow for some balance adjustment and will improve part quality.

Gate Design                               

All conventional gating types are suitable for processing GLS elastomers. The type of gate and the location, relative to the part, can affect the following:

• Part packing
• Gate removal or vestige
• Part cosmetic appearance
• Part dimensions including substrate warpage.

The type of gating is dependent on both part and tool design. For automatically degating tools, the highly elastic nature of softer TPEs makes gate design such as submarine gates or three plate tools with self-degating drops more difficult. Higher hardness and filled grades usually have lower ultimate elongation and therefore are more easily degated. To assure that a gate will break at a specific location, the land length should be short to create a high stress concentration.

The table below summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of gate designs. For more in-depth information about a specific gate design, please download the full-length Overmolding Guide.

Comparison of Gate Types