Overmolding refers to a process used to combine at least two materials to create one object part or design.
Today, two technologies can be used to create overmolded objects: Injection molding and 3D printing
Injection molding is the most common process used for over-molding more recently. Some 3d printing technologies are being used to over mold objects of the two, Overmolded parts typically consist of a substrate and the overmolding material, or sometimes more materials. one material is commonly known as the substrate, it is either partially or fully covered by a second material or materials referred to as the overmolded material.
The substrate material can be just about anything, metal, plastic, glass, and so on. The overmolded material is often silicone rubber or thermoplastic material. The over molding process often results in either a chemically bonded part of the materials are mechanically interlocked.
Overmolding offers several benefits. one, in particular, is that it can eliminate secondary operations when building parts thereby reducing manufacturing costs. It is often used to deliver a specific feel to a product such as softening edges or delivering a more pleasant feel or giving users a firm but soft grip. In brief, the injection overmolding process works like this.
With injection molding technology, substrate parts are molded first, the molded parts are either placed into a different mold or placed back into the injection molding machine, where the second material or materials is injected once cooled this object is removed from the mold, then you have an over molded part.
The 3d printing technology is typically jetting where two or more materials are jetted concurrently onto the part during the layer-by-layer build process. The types of products that are over molded include tool hand grips like drills scissors, Screwdrivers, personal care products, cell phones, and anything needing market differentiation. For more information about the silicone overmolding process, please visit Ukong website.