Injection Molded Foam. Now in Dual Color/Density!
Posted by Nancy Grossbart
For years, product designers and developers have been asking if the injection molded foam process could produce parts in a dual density or dual colors.
Although this foam process was invented several years ago, it wasn't really perfected. There was always some flash bleeding over into one side or the other between the densities or colors which made the parts look sloppy and not of the quality most developers need. Of course, this was most visible when the colors were different.
Finally, after lots of trials, this foam process is now perfected for simple geometry parts. This is huge progress in a growing industry that has no centralized association. It's the hard working inventive people on both the machine manufacturing and molder sides that pushed past all the obstacles that ultimately resulted in this breakthough.
So far, we've only been able create real quality parts when the geometry is simple, like a sandal or a midsole. Look at them. Don't they look fabulous? For example the upper side is one color (and one density) and the bottom side is a second color (and denser for abrasion resistance.)
Obviously, it can't stop here. Those of us in this industry must continue to strive to create the ability to produce more complex geometric parts in dual density/dual color. Hopefully, this will not take several years to perfect like the initial trials.
An adventurous customer, with a vision of their complex part in dual color or dual density, will absolutely help accelerate the development.
Any takers??
