Overmolding Injection Molding Process

 

Overmolding is often called two-shot injection molding since it consists of molding of one material over other(s) forming a multilayer part. At the beginning of the process, resin is injected into the mold (known as substrate) and allowed to solidify and afterwards, a second injection unit injects resin over the already solidified layer as indicated in the figure below. Possible applications that employ Overmolding is the construction of the parts that feature rubber handle, and more precisely in cases where rubber needed to be injected over a plastic substrate (Overmolding and Insert Molding: From Prototyping to Production, n.d.).

 

overmolding.jpg
 

Fig. 1 Overmolding concept

 

Materials commonly used:

  • Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene - BS
  • High-density Polyethylene - HDPE
  • Polyether Ether Ketone - PEEK
  • Polyamide - Nylon
  • Polycarbonate - PC
  • Polyethylene - PE
  • Polyetherimide - PEI
  • PBTR (Polybutylene Terephthalate - PBTR
  • Acrylic - PMMA
  • Polyoxymethylene - POM
  • Polypropylene - PP
  • Silicone - SI
  • Thermoplastic Elastomers -TPE
  • Thermoplastic Polyurethane - TPU
  • Thermoplastic Rubber - TPR

 

Bibliography

Overmolding and Insert Molding: From Prototyping to Production. (n.d.). Retrieved from Formlabs: https://formlabs.com/eu/blog/overmolding-insert-molding/