Molded Rubber Products: Purpose and Scope
Molded Rubber Products: Purpose and Scope
Molded Rubber Products: Purpose and Scope
Bonding Load-Deflection
Dimensional (Specify Grade Characteristic
Relative Finish Flash Extension Packaging
Tolerances and Method on (Specify only
Dimensions (Table 6) (Table 7) (Table 11)
(Tables 2-5) B1 and B2) when needed)
(Tables 8 & 9) (Table 10)
A1 F1 T.00mm T.000 B1 D1 P1
A2 No designation, see F2 T.08mm T.003 B2 D2 P2
A3 text and/or your F3 T.40mm T.016 B3 D3 P3
A4 rubber supplier. F4 T.80mm T.032 B4 -- --
-- Specify only when -- T1.60mm T.063 B5 -- --
-- needed. -- T2.35mm T.093 -- -- --
-- -- T∞ T∞ -- -- --
Example 1: Example 3:
Commercial tolerances; commercial finish; flash extension Basic tolerances; commercial finish; flash extension .80mm
.80mm (.032 in.) would be designated on the drawing as follows: (.032 in.) would be designated on the drawing as follows: RMA
RMA A3-F3-T.80mm (.032 in.). A4-F3-T.80mm (.032 in.).
Example 2: Example 4:
Precision tolerances; commercial finish; flash extension .80mm Precision tolerances; good finish; flash very close; (bond sam-
(.032 in.) and special agreement on bonding to metal would be ples tested to 16kN/m (90 lbs./in.) width to destruction) would be
designated on the drawing as follows: RMA A2-F3-T.80mm designated on the drawing as follows: RMA A2-F2-T.40mm
(.032 in.) - B5. (.016 in.) - B2 Grade 1 Method B.
In addition to the shrinkage, mold maker’s tolerance, trim and 1. Fixed dimension tolerances apply individually to each
finish, a number of other factors affect closure dimensions. fixed dimension by its own size.
Among these are flow characteristics of the raw stock, weight, 2. Closure dimension tolerances are determined by the
shape of preform and molding process. largest closure dimension and this single tolerance is
While closure dimensions are affected by flash thickness vari- used for all other closure dimensions.
ation, they are not necessarily related to basic flash thickness. If a 3. Fixed and closure dimensions for a given table do not
manufacturer plans to machine or die trim a product, the mold will necessarily go together, and can be split between tables.
have a built-in flash, which will be thicker than if hand deflashing
or tumble trim were to be employed. Thus products purchased 4. Tolerances not shown should be determined in consulta-
from two sources could have different basic flash thickness at the tion with the rubber manufacturer.
parting line and yet meet drawing dimensions.
5. Care should be taken in applying standard tolerances to
There is usually a logical place for the mold designer to locate products having wide sectional variations.
the parting line for best dimensional control and part removal. If
the product design limits this location, an alternate mold construc-
tion will be required, which may affect the tolerance control on the
product, and may, in some cases, increase the cost of the mold.
Registration Dimension: Dimensions affected by the matching
of the various plates of the mold that form the mold cavity.
Register is usually controlled by dowel pins and bushings or by
self-registering cavities.
TOLERANCE TABLES
There are four levels of dimensional tolerances that are used for
molded rubber products.
“A1” High Precision
“A2” Precision
“A3” Commercial
“A4” Basic
CONCENTRICITY Figure 2
Concentricity is the relationship of two or more circles or cir-
cular surfaces having a common center. It is designated as T.I.R.
(total indicator reading) and is the total movement of the hand of
an indicator set to record the amount that a surface varies from
being concentric.
All diameters formed in the same mold plate will be concentric
within 0.25mm TIR (.010 in. TIR).
Example:
In Fig. #2 diameter “A” will be concentric with diameter “B”
within 0.25mm TIR (.010 in. TIR)
Other diameters will be concentric within 0.75mm TIR (.030 in.
TIR).
Example:
In Fig. #2 diameter “A” or “B” will be concentric with diameter
“C” within 0.75mm TIR (.030 in. TIR).
Example: Figure 4
Fig. #4 Outside surface will be concentric with shaft within 2mm
TIR (.085 in. TIR) plus metal tolerance if unground.
Note: Parts may also be ground to closer tolerances.
Example: Figure 5
On products similar to that described in Fig. #5 having an outside
diameter of 75mm (3 in.) concentricity within 0.75mm TIR (.030
in. TIR) and wobble within 0.75mm TIR (.030 in. TIR) can be
expected.
Note: Wobble is a term used to identify movement of a surface
that is not intended to be parallel to the TIR axis of rotation.
SQUARENESS Figure 6
Squareness is the quality of being at an angle of 90° such as
“surface must be square with axis”. A tolerance of 2° should be
allowed for rubber surfaces that are not ground.
Rubber Product with Metal Insert
Example:
Rubber-to-metal product in Sketch 1 Fig. #6. Rubber surface B-B
is square with axis A-A as the angle is true 90°. Sketch 2 indicates
the same example with 2° tolerances exaggerated.
Note: This type of product requires closer control than is usually
normal with commercial products.
PARALLELISM Figure 9
Parallelism is the relationship of surfaces in different planes. To
be parallel the planes passing through the surfaces must be equi-
distant from each other at all points when measured at 90° to the
planes.
Rubber Product with Metal Inserts.
Example:
In Sketch 1 Fig. #9 the plates of the sandwich mount are parallel.
In Sketch 2 Fig. #9 they are not. On such a part approximately
200mm (8 in.) square, parallelism to within 0.75mm (.030 in.) can
be expected.
FACTORS AFFECTING FINISH AND If the surface of the rubber product is to be bonded to other
APPEARANCE materials in its application or is to be painted, the designer should
designate this on the drawing so that the manufacturer may use a
Machined Finish of Mold mold release lubricant that will not impair adhesion quality.
The machined finish of the mold has considerable effect on the Flash Removal Method
surface finish or appearance of a rubber product.
Some of the many methods used to remove flash from rubber
The best finish can be obtained from a highly polished steel parts may affect the appearance of the finished product. As an
mold, free from all tool marks or other imperfections. Naturally, example, hand trimming will ordinarily have no effect, while tum-
this type of mold is quite expensive to construct and maintain and bling may result in a dull surface.
is not generally required unless surface finish is of paramount
importance from either an appearance or functional standpoint. In Method of Designation of Finish
addition, it may be desirable in some cases to chrome plate the The symbol “F” followed by an appropriate number selected
mold in order to maintain the required surface finish under pro- from Table 6 shall be used to designate the type of finish required.
duction conditions.
An arc enclosing the actual area included by this designation
The commercial type mold is a machined steel mold made to and a leader to the finish number designates the type of finish
conform to good machine shop practice. Machine tool marks will desired. The use of a finish symbol on the surface does not pre-
not ordinarily be polished out of this type mold. It should be noted clude the possibility that other surfaces may require different fin-
that regardless of how highly the mold itself is polished, the ishes. However, the use of a standard notation is desirable wher-
appearance of the rubber surface will depend to a large extent ever possible to eliminate the repetition of finish symbols and
upon the factors outlined in the following paragraphs. maintain simplicity. SEE FIG. #10.
Type of Rubber Material Used Always permit “Commercial Finish” (F-3) whenever possible.
The type of rubber material used can greatly affect the appear-
ance of the rubber product. Some compounds lend themselves to
a bright glossy surface while others may be dull as molded or Figure 10
become dulled very easily during handling or storage. Also, there
are some rubber compounds to which antiozonants are added to
impede attack from ozone. As these compounds age, the antiozo-
nants “bleed out”, giving the product a colored or waxy surface,
often referred to as “bloom”. This is a common practice and the
product should not be considered imperfect or defective in any
way. This or other specification requirements may make it impos-
sible to produce a product with a glossy surface.
Table 6 - RMA Drawing Designation for Finish
Drawing
Designation
A smooth, polished and uniform finish completely free of tool marks, dents, nicks and scratches, as produced from a
F1 highly polished steel mold. In areas where F1 is specified, the mold will be polished to a surface finish of 10 micro-
inches (250nm) or better.
A uniform finish as produced from a polished steel mold. In areas where F2 is specified, the mold will be polished to
F2
a surface finish of 32 micro-inches (800nm) or better but with very small tool marks not polished out.
Surfaces of the mold will conform to good machine shop practice and no micro-inch finish will be specified. This is
F3
“Commercial Finish”.
F4 Satin finish.
In instances where flash extension is not a problem or where it (C) Machine Trim
is otherwise advantageous, parts are shipped as molded with no Flash is removed by passing the rubber part through machine
flash removal necessary. mounted rotating or reciprocating cutting tools. These devices are
customarily adapted to a particular product and may shear, saw, or
skive the flash away.
11 RMA MO-1 (2005)
(D) Tumble Trim Method of Designation of Flash
There are two basic types of tumble trimming. Both utilize a rotat-
ing barrel or drum in which the heavier rubber sections strike the Extension
thinner and more fragile flash breaking it free. Dry tumbling at The symbol “T” with a notation in hundredths of a millimeter for
room temperature is most effective with the higher durometer the maximum extension shall be used. Example: T .80mm.
“hard” compounds. The other type of tumbling utilizes carbon (.80mm maximum extension permitted.) IF ENGLISH DIMEN-
dioxide or nitrogen to freeze the molded parts, thus making the SION THE DRAWING DESIGNATION WILL NOT BE FOL-
compound more brittle so the flash will break more readily. Any LOWED BY ANY LETTERS. EXAMPLE T .032.
tumbling operation will have an effect on surface finish. Thickness
(E) Mechanical Deflashing The flash thickness may be specified following the extension limit
Modern deflashing machines utilize an abrasive medium, tum- if it is critical to the function of the part. Closure tolerances will
bling, and a refrigerant for quick freezing. The time and tempera- apply as in tables 2, 3, 4, and 5 on page 6.
ture are closely controlled while the parts are agitated in an Location
enclosed barrel. Refrigerant (usually carbon dioxide or nitrogen) An arc enclosing the actual area included by this designation and
is metered into the deflashing chamber while the parts are being a leader to the trim symbol designates the maximum allowable
impinged with a mechanically agitated abrasive medium. The flash extension and thickness thus enclosed. If no flash can be tol-
flash, being thin, freezes first and is broken away by the abrasive erated in a given area, the symbol “T” .00mm is used. SEE FIG.
medium and the tumbling action before the heavier rubber part #11.
itself has lost its resiliency. Some loss of surface finish may be
expected and some of the abrasive medium may adhere to the Standards
molded parts. The designer may indicate on his drawing any amount of maxi-
mum flash extension permissible. However, as a matter of sim-
(F) Pull Trim or Tear Trim plicity, a progression of flash extension Drawing Designations is
A very thin flash extension is molded immediately adjacent to the suggested in Table 7. Only those areas requiring such a designa-
part and a thicker flash is molded adjacent to the thin flash but far- tion should be specified. The use of a standard note can frequent-
ther from the part. When the flash is pulled from the molded part, ly be used with no further notation. SEE FIG. #11.
it separates at its thinnest point adjacent to the molded part. This
method may result in a sawtooth or irregular appearance and it is Figure 11
limited to certain compounds and product designs.
(G) Hand Trim
Flash is removed by an expedient method using hand tools such as
knives, scissors, razor blades or skiving knives.
Drawing
Designation
(T .000) No flash permitted on area designated. (Standard notation regarding other surfaces must accompany this
T .00mm
notation.)
T .08mm (T .003) This tolerance will normally require buffing, facing, grinding or a similar operation.
T .40mm (T .016) This tolerance will normally require precision die trimming, buffing or extremely accurate trimming.
(T .032) This tolerance will normally necessitate die trimming, machine trimming, tumbling, hand trimming, or tear
T .80mm
trimming.
T 1.60mm (T .063) This would be the normal tear trim tolerance.
T 2.35mm (T .093) This tolerance will normally require die trimming, tear trimming, or hand trimming of some type.
T∞ (T ∞) No flash limitation.
Drawing
Designation
B1 Production 100% tested to 70% of the minimum destruction values as noted in Table 9, Method A only.
(Specify method and In addition, sample parts tested to destruction must exceed the minimum destruction values as noted in
grade from Table 9.) Table 9. (Specify Method A or Method B and Grade.)
B2
(Specify method and Sample parts tested to destruction must exceed the minimum destruction values as noted in Table 9.
grade from Table 9.)
Rubber to be adhered to metal. This designation would ordinarily be used on products where adhesion is
B3
not critical to product function.
As an illustration of the above drawing designation, see Example 4 in the Summary of RMA Drawing Designations on page 3.
Method A
Drawing S.I. USA Customary
Designation Metric Units Units
Method B
Drawing S.I. USA Customary
Designation Metric Units Units
Primarily, rubber is used in place of metallic, ceramic, and a. Steady State Resonance
other rigid materials because it will provide a greater deflection b. Free Decay Resonance
for a given force than these other materials. Most uses of rubber c. Steady State Non-Resonant
are based upon this characteristic. d. Rebound Evaluation
In many uses of rubber, stiffness variation is not critical to the FACTORS AFFECTING STATIC AND DYNAMIC
rubber product function and in such cases the Shore A durometer LOAD DEFLECTION CHARACTERISTICS
hardness specification is sufficient.
Age
Rubber is used as an engineering material in resilient mount-
ings, vibration isolators, dampers, impact pads and many similar The aging of rubber compounds over a period of time is a com-
applications. Where static or dynamic stiffness characteristics plex process. The normal net effect of aging is an increase in mod-
become critical to the function of the product, appropriate test ulus or stiffness. The magnitude of this change is dependent upon
specifications must be established. the specific material involved and the environmental conditions.
METHODS AND CONSIDERATIONS Short term age, in the sense of the minimum number of hours
which should elapse between molding and evaluation, is also a
Static Methods significant factor. Depending upon the nature of the product, the
minimum period will vary from 24 hours to 168 hours.
When a static load-deflection specification is established for a
product, in addition to a hardness requirement, the load-deflection Dynamic History
specification shall supercede the hardness, should be stated on the
product drawing, and agreed upon between the customer and the The load-deflection characteristics of a rubber product are
rubber manufacturer. A static test is only “static” in that the load affected by the work history of that specific product. The initial
application comes to rest before the measurement is taken or the loading cycle on a new part, or a part that has been in a static state
rate of deflection does not normally exceed 0.8mm/s (2 in./min.). for a period of time, indicates a stiffer load-deflection characteris-
Such a test usually places the rubber in shear or compression. tic than do subsequent cycles. In static testing this effect becomes
There are several ways of specifying static load-deflection charac- stabilized and the load-deflection characteristics normally become
teristics. repeatable after two to four conditioning cycles.
a. Specify spring rate in load per unit deflection, e.g., N/m In dynamic testing, the conditioning period is normally select-
(lb./in.) or torque per degree, e.g. N-m/deg. (lb.-in./deg.). ed as the time required to obtain reproducible results.
When a rubber part is packaged, it is for the sole purpose of Table 11 - Packaging
transportation from the supplier to the user. Packaging usually
causes some distortion of the rubber part which, if used in a rea- Drawing
sonable length of time, does not permanently affect the part. Designation
However, when rubber parts are held in a distorted position for a
prolonged period of time, permanent set may cause permanent dis- This class of product will be packaged to elimi-
tortion and result in unusable parts. Any product on which distor- nate all possible distortion during transportation
tion may make the part unusable should be specified and packaged P1 and storage. This may require special boxes, car-
by such methods as will prevent distortion. However, such meth- tons, forms, cores, inner liners, or other special
ods are sometimes costly and should not be specified unless methods.
absolutely necessary. When distortion is a problem, the product
should be removed from the container when received and stored This class of product will be packaged in corru-
on shelves or in a manner to preserve usability. Packaging is a gated containers or boxes. The quantity of the
complex area and should be given serious consideration. Table 11 product packaged per container will be held to an
at right is to be considered only as a guide. Special packaging P2
amount which will not crush the lower layers
problems should be considered between purchaser and supplier. from its own weight, but no forms, cores, inner
liners, etc., are necessary.