Molding/Curing

The Molding/Curing stage covers the physical forming of the plastic material to prepare it for use in product assembly. The following process option is applicable to all Plastic materials, with an additional option possible for PU plastic only, as noted below:

• Injection molding, for plastic is the default selection for all Plastic materials except Thermoset Polyurethane (PU) plastic. This process should be selected when the plastic material is prepared in liquid form and injected into a pre-made mold, cooled, then removed and trimmed.
• Molded, hot compression, for plastic this process should be selected when the plastic material is heated, and then placed into a heated mold and compressed.
• Blow molding, for plastic this process should be selected when the plastic material is extruded in a hose that is blown up in the mold.
• Extrusion, for plastic this process should be selected when the plastic granulate is plasticized in an extruder. 
• Thermoforming, for plastic this process should be selected when the extruded profile is heated to its pliable temperature and pressed into the desired shape by using a mold.

The Thermoset Polyurethane (PU) plastic material has an additional Molding/Pouring process option:

• Pouring, bulk, for plastic is the default process selection for PU plastic and represents forming by bulk pouring.