Rubber Selection 2

[sean09]

I am looking for a rubber which is-

suitable for injection moulding,
resistant to weathering, impact, abrasion and tearing,
resistant to oils, and
has a degree of flexibility

Using the cane connectors found here as an example,

http://www.dobies.co.uk/Shop/Gardening+Equipment/Plant+Supports/FIGO+Connectors+581944.htm,

I am looking for a more robust rubber than is used in them but still able to flex similar to the legs in the cane connector.

Any ideas???

 

[GrahamBennett]

EPDM ticks most of your boxes. NBR has superior oil resistance but less resistance to weathering.

 

[GrahamBennett]

A

http://www shucks

- thanks for the star.

 

[loughnane]

the parker o-ring handbook has a good comparison chart of common rubber materials.

As far as injection molding, most rubber's can't be injection molded in the true sense. They can be transfer molded, which is a bit different.

Chris Loughnane - Product Design

http://www.pdnotebook.com

http://www.twitter.com/_chrisloughnane

 

[tom1953]

Chris,
I'm not sure what you mean by "As far as injection molding, most rubber's can't be injection molded in the true sense", as most rubber types can be injection molded, as well as transfer and compression molded. Of course, the rubber compound has to be suitable for injection molding (reasonably low viscosity and scorch time, e.g.)
tom

 

[loughnane]

@tom1953

i stand corrected.

Chris Loughnane - Product Design

http://www.pdnotebook.com

http://www.twitter.com/_chrisloughnane

 

[Yuki000054]

Hi Sean,I think CSM (hypalon) might be able for injection molded ,for CSM(HYPALON) is up to now the most valuable and special rubber ,temperature ,heat ,ozone ,resistance are excellentier than other rubbbers .

http://www.jxhrhg.com

is a manufacturer of CSM (hypalon),Skype is mine :yuki000054 for this raw materials .

 

[sean09]

Thanks everyone for your replies. My knowledge of rubber and what it's capable of is quite low, so every little helps

I was thinking injection moulding at the start because I thought the project given to me was for a mass produced product. Turns out it will be quite a low batch produced product.

Are there any rubber manufacturing processes suitable for low production runs? I am beginning to think I should stick with trying to design something out of sheet metal

 

[GrahamBennett]

Compression moulding will give reasonably accurate parts for short production runs. Injection moulding is not suitable (tools are very expensive) for short runs.

 

[sean09]

Do you think something like this picture can be made from rubber using a low cost production process?

This is a central spider for a roof cover support. The current one is three separate pieces so this is a simple design making it a single piece. But I also want the arms to be flexible so the poles can be inserted here and the whole lot sold as a single unit. If it is to be sold as a single unit then the arms will need to fold to allow easy transportation.

 

[Beorges]

Similar to compression, is transfer, could give you a little bit more precision, a multi cavities

 

[sean09]

So do you think EPDM could be a suitable material?

Flexibility in the legs is something I would like, so the poles can be inserted to make a single unit, and then the legs folded down. But it would be no good to have the legs flopping about.