Hello everyone;
TPE stands for thermoplastic elastomers. Basically, a plastic
formulation that simulates rubber's flexible qualities. It is used in
applications that vary from automotive to household items. Santoprene is
one of several trademark names. Co-molding refers to injection molding
in a base material and then injection molding a second usually different
resin. Sometimes, a second color is the only change. This removes the
neccesity for painting. Overmolding usually involves injection molding
in a rigid base resin and then molding over that part with a softer,
flexible TPE. Again, this is a very basic overview of the process from a
high volume manufacturing aspect. I do not know how TPE's fit into the
rp world. The current equipment is very sophisticated to do both
co-molding or overmolding and so are the molds. Both this processes can
be done with a standard injection mold press and standard molds, but it
would be more manual and inefficient.
For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
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