- Forming and Cutting Mold: in aluminum or steel to thermoform the structure. Mold has blade and counter-blade or matrix/punch technology to cut the component contour.
Depending on the raw material used, mold can be heated up (Thermo-set Technology) or cooled down (Thermoforming Technology). - Cover RRIM Mold: in aluminum or in steel, with necessary mechanic or hydraulic movements to get component feasibility.
- Cooling Shell: in resin or aluminum, with forced cooling system (air or water).
- Gluing Station: in aluminum or resin, with manual or pneumatic system.
- Trimming Nest: in resin to cut part of the component.
- Checking Fixture: in resin (light) or in aluminum (full) to check dimensionally the component.
Thermoforming Technology
In the initial phase of the process, raw material is heated up.
Further on, it is formed, covered and cut in a one-step process, in a water-cooled mold.
Thermo-set Technology
This technology implies raw material made with thermo-set resins, which reacts to the high temperature of the mold thus shaping the geometry of the component.
Usually the covering material is applied in a second step of the process.
Cover RRIM - Reinforced Reaction Injection Molding Technology
Firstly a feasibility study is required to define raw material shrinkage and flow.
Then mold in aluminum or steel is produced, with all the necessary movements to assure the component de-molding.
In this process, covering material is lied down on mold matrix with vacuum, on which the RRIM material is injected to have a finished part in a one-step process.
After production, it is possible to use cooling shell in resin or aluminum to cool down the component avoiding deformations. Afterwards, gluing and trimming stations are used to finish the product.