Rotational Mold Making

What Type of Parts are Good Candidates for Rotational Mold Making?

Rotational Mold Making is a process that has been in use since the 1950’s. A fairly simple concept allows manufacturers to create hollow products out of plastic using a mold. A lump of plastic is put inside the mold and then you begin to spin and heat the mold simultaneously. The rotation of the mold pulls the plastic to the sides coating them evenly slowly you reduce heat while continuing rotation until the mold is solid enough to remove. One of the first products of this process were doll heads but as time passed and newer type of plastic became available new products began to appear.

The machines for Rotational molding also vary greatly and are often built around a mold. Carousel machines are the most popular because they come in a variety of sizes. They can also either have fixed arms that all move as one or independent arms that move differently depending on the needs of the specific mold. The independent machines allow for different size molds to be used in the same machine as opposed to a fixed machine which has more limited function.

Sourcing Rotational Mold Making

The molds themselves are often built to order. Rotational Mold Making is a complicated process that varies greatly depending on the intended product. Usually made from sheet steel or aluminum the creation process can be different depending on the size and complexity of the mold itself. For basic parts welding is normally used it is a cheaper process. For the more complicated or intricate molds casting is used. Casting involves pouring liquid metal into a pre-designed mold and allowing it to cool. Once cooled it is removed from its mold and welded to the other parts of the larger mold. The companies that make the molds themselves are usually able to work within any specifications to meet a customer’s specific need.