A mould is filled with a measured amount of plastic powder. The mould is closed and rotated around 2 or 3 axis while being heated. This allows the plastic to be distributed over the mould surface. When cooled, the mould is opened and the product is removed.
Used to produce ‘seem free’ products and is suited to small production runs, unlike injection moulding. There is no external pressure involved in the process. Products produced are hollow and stress-free and come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. The steel moulds have different coatings:
· - Copper – better surface detail
· - Electroformed nickel – best surface detail (more expensive)
· - Aluminium – better heat transfer
The video shows a large water tank being rotationally moulded. Quite impressive!
What materials are best suited to rotational moulding? What features would you expect to see on a product that is rotational moulded?
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