Every plastic part that you see in your day to day life is a result of a plastic molding technique that may be car parts or containers or bottles or any high volume items. Plastic molding is a process of shaping plastic using a mold using different types of techniques.

There are different types of molding techniques that are used to make different plastic shapes, of which some of the common terms are casting, injection molding, blow molding, compression molding, and rotational molding, etc. Two of such highly efficient molding techniques that are used to shape different types of daily purposes plastic parts are Over molding and insert molding.

Overmolding

The process of Overmolding includes combining two or more elastomer materials or plastic materials to form a single plastic part. In this molding process, a base layer part is molded first followed by the additional plastic layers that are molded over and are placed around the original or base part.

Depending on the compatibility of the material and the look or texture of the material, one or more plastic resins are used.

Significance of Overmolding

Overmolding of plastic can help reduce the time taken for manufacturing, as the second piece of the material is molded directly on the original part thus reducing the time to manufacture both the pieces from scratch. Assembling time is also reduced to a great extent due to the Overmolding process.

This process of shaping plastics is used for a wide range of applications which includes the medical, military and automotive industry as well. Besides, different Overmolding options are used to add color for aesthetics or else to create flexible areas of rigid plastic components.

Although adherence for this type of molding is tough and is required to be the tightest to tolerate different adverse conditions, renowned manufacturers like Qmolding can provide several benefits such as improved grip, electrical insulation, waterproofing and dampen vibration, etc are provided by this method.

Insert molding

In insert molding, plastic is injected into a mold that already contains a pre-placed insert which can produce a single molded plastic piece with an insert that is surrounded by the plastic. These inserts can be made either from metals or else from different types of plastic.

Plastic materials shaped from this process find applications in several industries and also in making insert-molded couplings, threaded fasteners and many electrical components as well.

Significance: -

Having some incredible tweaks like expanding the plastic capabilities and limiting the number of costly metals into the productions, this process can reduce the cost of shaping plastics to a great extent.

Which process is right for plastic molding?

Even though the general concept of Overmolding and insert molding is similar there is a lot of difference between these two processes. Overmolding is a two-step process after which the features of the product can be enhanced and the pieces are joined permanently. On the other hand, insert molding involved encapsulating the product in a molded plastic. it is a faster process than Overmolding as both plastic materials are molded at the same time.

Both of this procedure has its own benefits in plastic molding as insert operation can help in adding logos, badge, and threaded inserts while Overmolding can bond the components together and make your product better. Both of these processes can add good aesthetic colors and texture and one should choose the best fit for the expected results.