Micro Rubber Moulding

Micro rubber parts

Shrinking devices in autos, instruments, electronics, and medicine are demanding micro rubber moulding for tiny, precise components. But ultra-small, flash free parts are incredibly difficult to produce.

However, this is one of the key things that sets us apart as a manufacturer in the rubber seals, gaskets and mouldings market.

As far back as 1979 we produced a miniature O Ring with an internal diameter of just 0.05mm, setting new standards in the industry at the time.

Micro detailing on larger parts

Of course micro moulding isn’t just for small parts. It can also apply to incorporating micro detailing on larger parts, such as thin wall structures, tiny holes, or other complex features.

Rubber to metal bonding

Often the requirement for micro moulding can be combined with the need for inserts and rubber to metal bonding, such as in instrumentation and electronics and semi-conductors. As specialists in this area DP Seals are well placed to help you with your application.

Getting the best results

To get the best results for your project it is important to choose a manufacturer with a combination of technical expertise and experience, material selection, in-house tooling, manufacturing, quality control and project management.

Choosing such a manufacturer ensures that any problems can be ironed out and changes implemented quickly and effectively to ensure the fastest speed to market. Let’s look at the importance of these in a little more detail.

Technical input

With over 40 years experience we can help with your most difficult challenges and have partnered with engineers from a wide variety of industries across the globe to find solutions to meet the most exacting requirements.

Material selection

Micro moulded parts often require custom compounds and materials which must be treated delicately to ensure the highest levels of quality throughout the process.

Crucially, polymer selection impacts tolerances, dimensions, features, functionality, and cost. DP Seals partners with compounders and testing companies to ensure the perfect blend for your application, often utilising silicone grades.

Micro Tooling

Our tool room has the latest technology. Producing precision tooling in-house means you’ll get the high accuracy features you require with a shorter and stronger manufacturing process.

In fact, some of the components we’ve manufactured have been so small that suitable off the shelf tools just didn’t exist. In these cases our tool room engineers have made their own.

 

Transfer and Compression Moulding

We typically use transfer moulding for micro parts as it surpasses injection or compression alternatives with its low pressure and gentle “hands on” technique. This enables incredibly tight tolerance holding and very fine, almost imperceptible, moulding split lines.

Quality control

We operate to AS 9100 and were one of the first companies in the UK to achieve ISO 9001.

With our patented moulding system we can virtually eliminate flash altogether. If required we also have fluorination and cryogenic cleaning services to ensure parts meet the highest levels of quality.

Finally, parts are packaged and labeled in accordance with customer specifications to ensure batch and process traceability.

Miniature O Ring on a five pence piece
Can you spot the miniature O Ring on this five pence piece?

 

 

 

Contact us now : advice – materials – quote

 

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What our clients say

As someone who has been assessing suppliers for over 20 years it was quite apparent to me that DP Seals are technical experts and industry specialists. In meeting our 4M and QCDES standards it was their personal touch and attention to detail that helped set them apart.  Natasha Witcombe Technical Procurement Engineer, Ricoh

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