ADVANCED MATERIALS AND PROCESSES
The PPM Manufacturing Process
The manufacturing processes we use include Compression Molding, Injection Molding and Radio Frequency (RF) Welding
Compression Molding is a forming process similar to making a waffle. It is ideal for parts made of medium hardness compounds or softer and consists of:
- Pouring plastic "flow" into a mold
- Closing the mold and compressing it with heat
- Trimming "overfill"
Injection Molding is the most automated of our manufacturing processes, accommodating single- and multi-cavity mold production for Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE). It includes these steps:
- Heating of material to "plastic flow" temperatures
- Injecting of plastic flow, under pressure, through sprues into the mold cavity
- Simultaneous heating & cooling of molds to balance plastic flow and part solidification
RF Welding is the process of fusing materials with high-frequency radio energy for welding polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), urethane, polyester, nylon, laminated and coated fabrics. It involves:
- "Exciting" the poles of the polymer molecules, causing them to alternate and change field
- Converting "field energy" to heat, creating a weld at the contact point of the two materials
- Cooling the material to specifications
