Molding or moulding (see spelling differences) is the process of manufacturing by shaping pliable raw material using a rigid frame or model called a pattern.
A mold or mould is a hollowed-out block that is filled with a liquid like plastic, glass, metal, or ceramic raw materials. The liquid hardens or sets inside the mold, adopting its shape. A mold is the counterpart to a cast. The manufacturer who makes the molds is called the moldmaker. A release agent is typically used to make removal of the hardened/set substance from the mold easier. Typical uses for molded plastics include molded furniture, molded household goods, molded cases, and structural materials.
Types of molding include:
- Blow molding
- Compaction plus sintering
- Compression molding
- Expandable bead molding
- Extrusion molding
- Foam molding
- Injection molding
- Laminating
- Reaction injection molding
- Matched mold
- Matrix molding
- Plastic moulding
- Pressure plug assist molding
- Rotational molding (or Rotomolding)
- Transfer molding
- Thermoforming
- Vacuum forming, a simplified version of thermoforming
- Vacuum plug assist molding
- Injection molding die with side pulls
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"A" side of die for 25% glass-filled acetal with 2 side pulls
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Close up of removable insert in "A" side
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"B" side of die with side pull actuators
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Insert removed from die
Famous quotes containing the word molding:
“To translate, one must have a style of his own, for otherwise the translation will have no rhythm or nuance, which come from the process of artistically thinking through and molding the sentences; they cannot be reconstituted by piecemeal imitation. The problem of translation is to retreat to a simpler tenor of one’s own style and creatively adjust this to one’s author.”
—Paul Goodman (1911–1972)