Custom Molded Rubber and Silicone Parts

Liquid Silicone Rubber Molding

Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) molding is a form of injection molding. Liquid silicone rubber first gets injected into a mold, then the liquid is heat-cured, cooled, and removed from the mold. 

At Advanced Prototype Molding, the LSR mold itself is fabricated through CNC machining so the mold captures all design details and can withstand the extreme temperatures of the molding process. This mold can be used repeatedly to create parts. 

LSR is a thermosetting polymer, so once the liquid is formed and cured, the part is permanently formed. The advantages of LSR molding include:

    • Universal appeal across industries

    • Easy final prototype creation for testing and trials

    • Durability

    • Chemical resistance

    • Temperature resistance

    • Biocompatibility

    • Easy sterilization

    • Insulating properties

Rubber Compression Molding

Compression molding uses uncured rubber that has been preformed into a controlled shape such as a disk. A mold encloses the workpiece and compresses it between two plates at high pressure. That high heat and pressure vulcanize the rubber to cure the piece. Pins automatically eject the piece from the mold, enabling faster production runs.

The advantages of rubber compression molding include:

    • Highly precise end productions that are nearly flash-less and ready for quick delivery

    • Low material waste, resulting in cost savings

    • Simpler, less expensive, and faster tooling

    • Suitable for a variety of materials, including natural rubber, silicone, Viton, EPDM, BUNA, neoprene

Both of these processes create high-quality end products. Depending on the exact nature of the product and the size of the run, either LSR or rubber compression may be the right choice. LSR productions are perfect for:

    • Bridge tooling

    • Functional prototyping

    • Pilot runs and low-volume production

    • High-volume production

This silicone molding process can create parts that are useful in every major industry and function safely in extreme conditions. Silicone can create parts such as gaskets, valves, medical device components, and more. When companies are trialing new products, liquid silicone rubber molding gives them more flexibility at a lower total cost. We can also adhere to Mil-Spec for stringent military and defense applications or create custom silicone extrusions for any application.

Rubber compression molding can create highly precise seals, O-rings, and parts that help protect closed systems. Applications for compressed rubber parts include:

    • Fuel, electrical, and HVAC systems

    • Automotive systems

    • Sterile rubber hoses for food and beverage applications

    • Hydraulic and pneumatic seals