Twister Technology - Rubber and Plastic Components Supplier

Your Value Rubber and Plastic Components Supplier

Twister Technology, Inc. specializes in rubber and plastic molding. Our partnerships with manufacturers in the USA, China, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Taiwan allow us to fulfill your rubber and plastic needs, whether custom or off-the-shelf, at the quality level you need and at the prices you want.

Twister Technology, Inc. also offers a host of secondary operations like assembly and decorating services which include heat staking, ultrasonic and spin welding, solvent and adhesive bonding, 1 to 4 color pad printing, screen printing, hot stamping, painting, emf shielding coating, soldering, modular work cells, turnkey assemblies, packaging and global distribution.

Twister Technology, Inc. process experience is centered around custom molding, though we do supply a limited amount of "off-the-shelf product". Following is a description of the 3 main types of molding we offer to our customers. They are compression molding, transfer molding and injection molding. In addition to molding, we also specialize in extrusions, dip coating, fabric reinforced diaphragms, prototyping, die cutting and insert molding.

Twister Technology, Inc. can supply you with components made from virtually all of the synthetic and natural polymers available in the marketplace. From organic rubbers to silicones, thermosets to thermoplastics, give us the opportunity to quote on your project. Or contact us for any questions you may have, we probably have a knowledgeable representative close by to answer your questions.

Home Page

Materials

Request a Quote

Compression Molding

A process of molding rubber (and in rare cases, plastic) parts where a cavity (part configuration) is cut into a metal top plate, bottom plate and a center plate (if needed). A preform (measured amount of uncured rubber compound or preheated plastic) is added to the open, heated mold cavity. To form the component, the mold is then closed and put under pressure to squeeze the uncured rubber or plastic into the shape of the cavity. Excess material is squeezed from the cavity into pockets cut into the mold to allow complete closure of the mold. In the case of molding rubber articles, the pressure and temperature of the mold is used to crosslink (cure) the rubber. After the correct amount of time, the mold is opened and the rubber component is removed while still hot. In the case of molding plastic, the mold is cooled to a point where the plastic retains enough integrity to be removed from the mold without part distortion.

Benefits:

Inexpensive molds and machinery.
Good for small volume production.

Problems:

Labor intensive.
Long cycle times (especially for plastics).
Variations in part configuration.
Waste material, flash.

Go back to top of page

Transfer Molding

A process of molding rubber parts where a cavity (part configuration) is cut into a metal top plate, bottom plate and a center plate (if needed). A transfer pot is added on top of the mold with a sprue (1 or more channels) connecting the pot to the cavity. A plunger is then added above the transfer pot. To mold the rubber part, the heated mold cavity is closed (top, center and botom plates) and a measured preform is added to the transfer pot. The mold is then put under pressure forcing the plunger to squeeze the uncured rubber through the sprue(s) into the cavity forming the rubber component. Excess material is left in the transfer pot. When the rubber is cured, the mold is opened, the part and flash pad with sprue system is pulled from the hot mold. This process is not used to manufacture plastic components.

Benefits:

Relatively inexpensive molds and machinery.
Closer dimensional control than compression molding.
Allows for molding of metal and plastic inserts.

Problems:

Excess material left in transfer pot and sprue system.
Labor intensive.
Slightly higher tooling costs than compression tools.
Long cycle times.

Go back to top of page

Injection Molding

A process of molding rubber and plastic parts where a cavity (part configuration) is cut into a series of metal plates that are stacked to form the mold. A sprue plate is added where the injection nozzle introduces material into the sprue system and from there into the cavity. In rubber molding, the heated mold plates are closed. The cool material is injected (screw system, ram system or combinations of both) into the cavity through the injection nozzle. The uncured rubber is squeezed through the sprue system (hot or cold) into the cavity forming the rubber component. The injection system is set up to deliver precise amounts of material to the cavity, and the sprue system can be set up so no excess material is lost. The mold is held closed to crosslink (cure) the rubber article. Cure times can be very short (seconds) for LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber), or longer for gum stock using peroxide or sulfur cure systems (minutes). In plastics molding, the mold plates are cooled. The hot material is injected through the sprue system (hot or cold) into the cavity forming the plastic component. The injection system can also be set up so no excess material is lost. The mold is held closed until the plastic cools enough to remove without distortion of the part.

Benefits:

Process can be automated to reduce labor costs.
Shorter cycle times.
Excellent dimensional control.
Consistent mechanical properties of parts.

Problems:

High cost of tooling and machinery.

Go back to top of page