What is the difference between mold and molding?

1. Extrusion molding
Extrusion molding is a process of heating plastic materials to a plastic state and then extruding them into specific shapes through an extruder. This process typically includes the following steps:
Plastic particles are heated to become plastic and can be processed by an extruder.
The heated plastic is pushed into the mold through an extruder, with one screw pushing the material to form the desired cross-sectional shape.
The extruded plastic is cooled to ensure it solidifies and maintains the desired shape.
Finally, the extruded molded product is cut into the required length.
Extrusion molding is commonly used to produce products of continuous length, such as pipes, films, and profiles. Its advantages lie in efficiency and low cost, but it is not suitable for producing more complex components.
2. Compression molding
Compression molding is a process of placing heated plastic sheets or particles into a mold and applying pressure to fill it with the shape of the mold. This process includes the following steps:
Plastic sheets or particles are heated to a plastic state.
The heated plastic is placed in a mold, which is usually double-sided and has the desired final shape.
The mold is closed and pressure is applied to fill the shape of the mold with plastic.
The molded product is cooled in the mold to ensure it maintains the desired shape.
After cooling, the formed product is taken out of the mold.
Compression molding is commonly used to produce small batches of complex components, such as automotive parts, electrical casings, etc. Its advantage lies in the ability to produce more complex shapes, but the production cycle is relatively long and the cost is high.
3. Differences and comparisons
Extrusion molding involves extruding plastic to form a cross-sectional shape.
Compression molding forms the final shape by placing heated plastic in a mold and applying pressure.
Extrusion molding is suitable for producing products of continuous length, such as pipes, films, etc.
Compression molding is suitable for producing small batches of complex components.
Extrusion molding has high production efficiency and relatively low cost.
The production efficiency of compression molding is relatively low and the cost is high.
Extrusion molding is suitable for most plastic materials.
Compression molding is suitable for thermoplastic sheets or particles.