The Rotational Moulding Process
- Thermoplastic powder placed in the mould
- The mould is heated while rotating on two axes
- The mould is cooled
- The component is removed
The process is relatively simple - plastic powder is placed into a metal mould, which is then closed and moved into an oven chamber.
The mould is heated up to temperatures typically between 220C and 400C, while rotating on two axes at low speed.
As the rotating mould heats up, the powder melts and adheres to the inner surface, progressively building up a layer over the surface of the mould.
Once the plastic is completely fused, the mould is withdrawn from the oven chamber and cooled.
The plastic product is then removed from the mould and allowed to cool, often with the use of jigs to maintain critical features.
The cycle then begins again.
Additional features can then be introduced into the moulding, by the use of traditional machining techniques.
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