Large, sculpted parts can be molded economically.

Variable thickness walls allow for greater design freedom.

Closed molds produce accurately molded and structurally strong parts.

Lower tooling cost and shorter tooling lead time.

A wide variety of material properties including UL94VO.

Electronic components can be encapsulated.

RIM parts are lower cost than the same parts made from metal or fiberglass.

Composites - RIM parts can be reinforced with many materials.

 

Exothermic Capabilities

CAD Engineering Review

RIM Molding Design

RIM Molding Manufacture

RIM Molding Repair/Modification

RIM Molding

Precision Painting

Silk Screening

Assembly

Reaction Injection Molding Enables Complex Design Geometries in Medical System Enclosure Panels

The PHOENIX Automated Microbiology System, developed by the Biosciences division of Becton Dickinson and Company, is used in large commercial and hospital laboratories. The system performs automated analysis of infectious agents and has the capacity to perform from one to 100 determinations simultaneously. When BD was in the design phase, they were drawn to Reaction Injection Molding Technology due to its ability to create relatively large parts with complex geometries, varying wall thicknesses, and reinforcing ribs and molded-in bosses. The access door, door frame, and the large right and left front panels of the unit's carousel bay are made with the polyurethane Reaction Injection Molding process, provided by Exothermic Molding, Inc.

The four RIM-molded parts feature a complex, convex-curved surface. At more than 32" tall and 21" wide, the door and its frame feature an arc radius of 18". The door has raised surface features as well. The Reaction Injection Molding process is ideally suited for both of these design features. Designers agreed they couldn't achieve such complex geometries with sheet metal. The process also allowed varying wall thickness from as little as 0.090" to as much as 0.40", as well as an extensive reinforcing rib structure.

The Reaction Injection Molding parts are molded with aluminum tooling cut directly from CAD files. Only three molds were necessary to create four parts, with the right and left panels produced from a family mold. This creative tooling approach, along with 3D CAD files, are cost cutting features made possible by the experience of Exothermic Molding and the design flexibility of the Reaction Injection Molding process.

Exothermic Molding painted and silk-screened the molded parts in-house. In addition, significant assembly was done for Becton Dickinson including the installation of metal inserts, sheet metal shielding, latches, and various other components. Exothermic Molding provides value added sourcing and assembly of dozens of components including sheet metal, insulation bushings, injection molded components, solenoids, and hardware. The parts are then carefully packed and shipped directly to BD's assembly floor.
Reaction Injection Molding
Reaction Injection Molding