Overmolding And Insert Molding Capabilities
Proto Labs offers rapid overmolding and insert molding capabilities to produce parts from a range of thermoplastic and liquid silicone rubber materials for on-demand production, bridge tooling, pilot rune, and rapid prototyping needs. With the utilization of aluminum molds that offer cost-effective tooling, prototypes and on-demand production parts may be produced in as fast as 15 days.
Overmolding works through the use of a standard injection molding process involving an aluminum mold with no heating or cooling lines running through it. After the total run of substrate parts are molded, overmold tooling is then assembled to the press. Substrate parts are placed by hand into a mold where each part is overmolded with a thermoplastic or liquid silicone rubber material.
Insert molding has a similar process that uses a preformed part (often metal) that is loaded into a mold where it is overmolded with plastic to create a final component.
For more information on Proto Labs’ overmolding and insert molding capabilities and guidelines, visit the Proto Labs webpage.