Compression Molding Services

One-Stop Custom Compression Molding Services

Providing customized compression molding solutions at competitive prices. From prototype design to production, NOBLE has advanced compression molding equipment and an experienced team of engineers to ensure you can obtain high-precision, stable performance, and complex geometry compression molded parts quickly.

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Our Powerful Compression Molding Processes

Compression molding is a flexible and versatile manufacturing process where preheated materials are placed in the mold cavity and subjected to high temperature and high pressure to solidify plastics, rubbers, and composite materials into high-strength and durable parts. NOBLE uses advanced compression molding equipment and an experienced team of engineers to ensure that you can receive each high-precision, consistent, and durable compression molded part quickly.

Transfer Compression Molding

Transfer molding places preheated material into a “tank” or cavity in a separate section of the mold. After the mold is closed, the material is transferred under pressure into the mold cavity, where the hot material is heated and cured, ejecting a precision part with complex geometry.

Vacuum Compression Molding

Vacuum compression molding is the application of a vacuum within the mold cavity before or during the compression process. The vacuum helps pull the material more evenly into the mold cavity, reducing the possibility of trapped air or voids. Making it ideal for parts with high appearance or performance requirements.

Hydraulic Compression Molding

Hydraulic compression molding utilizes a hydraulic press to apply pressure to the material in a mold. The material is heated to the desired temperature, and then the hydraulic press closes the mold to apply consistent, controlled pressure, ensuring that the compression molded part meets precise specifications due to precise control of temperature and pressure. Hydraulic compression molding is particularly useful for large parts that require uniform pressure over a large surface area.

Rubber Compression Molding

Rubber compression molding is specifically used to mold rubber materials. The process involves placing uncured rubber into a mold cavity and then applying heat and pressure to cure it into its final shape. Rubber compression molding produces parts with excellent mechanical properties and is suitable for producing small to medium batches of durable, flexible, and wear-resistant rubber parts.

Cold Compression Molding

Cold press forming processes thermoplastic materials at a lower temperature to obtain environmentally friendly cold press-formed parts in a short time. Cold press forming usually involves heating only the mold while keeping it at a lower temperature before placing the thermoplastic material into the mold.

Conventional Compression Molding

Conventional compression molding involves preheating a thermoset or elastomeric plastic body, placing it into a heated mold cavity, closing the mold, and applying pressure to compress the material into the desired shape. The material is held under pressure and heat for a specified period to cure or solidify, then the mold is opened and the part is ejected. Conventional compression molding is ideal for high-volume production because it can create parts quickly and efficiently.

Our Excellent Thermoforming Mold Services

We provide customized and cost-effective thermoforming mold service solutions at competitive prices. From prototype design to manufacturing, our experienced experts will select the best mold materials for you, manufacture fast, reliable, and efficient compression molding molds, complete the testing and verification of prototype molds, and ensure that you can obtain high-precision thermoforming parts that far exceed your expectations in a short time.

3D Printed Nylon 12 (MJF)

Cast Aluminum

Machined Urethane Foam

Machined Aluminum

Compression Molding Tooling Tolerances and Standards
Description	Detail
Size	98.42in. x 78.74in. x 39.37in. 2500mm x 2000mm x 1000mm
Mold Cavities	Single or multi-cavity
Mold Life	Unlimited (We will open a new mold if the old one worn out)
Mold Storage	Forever
Mold Material	P20 Steel
General Tolerance	Normally +/- 0.008in.（0.2mm)

*Note: Tooling surface finish is only important for clear materials or glossy finishes on the mold side. It is not critical for most opaque materials and male/male molds. For clear plastics, a matte finish will leave a frosted/diffuse texture on the mold side, which may or may not be desirable.

Our Robust Compression Molding Capabilities

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From Prototyping to Manufacturing

NOBLE is your trusted one-stop custom compression molding solution. From prototyping to manufacturing, turning your ideas into reality through vast manufacturing resources,appropriate technology, streamlined processes, expert guidance, and perfect quality inspection processes.

Compression Molding Prototyping

NOBLE engineers use advanced prototyping molds to easily get design feedback and verification. Use excellent compression molding prototypes to create small batches of plastic molded parts. NOBLE focuses on making prototype molds within a few days to ensure that you can conduct functional testing and verify market interest. Help you reduce project risks before the full production of parts and provide you with strong project support.

Production Tooling

We manufacture high-quality production tooling for high-volume plastic part production. Our production tools are made from high-strength, durable tool steel materials suitable for producing hundreds of thousands of parts. We can vary materials and construction methods according to your unique requirements.

Low-Volume Compression Molding

NOBLE meets low to medium-volume production needs with tight tolerance control, quality inspection, and a complete supply chain, and quickly delivers cost-effective, high-precision compression molded parts.

Why Choose Us for Custom Compression Molding Service

We have more than 100 advanced compression molding equipment and an experienced team of engineers. Our experienced project managers provide in-depth manufacturing analysis and prototype design services to help you optimize structural design, select the right process, reduce costs, shorten project cycles, and ensure that you receive compression molded parts that exceed industry standards in a short period.

Quick Turnaround Times

Get a quote in minutes and compression molded parts in days! Our expert engineers use advanced manufacturing equipment and superior compression molding technology to reduce cycle times by up to 60%.

Expertise and Experience

With many years of experience in compression molding, our experienced experts consistently deliver a wide range of compression molded parts that exceed customer expectations, demonstrating our mastery of manufacturing complexities.

Custom Solutions

Our engineering team evaluates your unique compression molding needs. With custom assembly options and flexible processes, we can meet the unique specifications of each project.

Strong Manufacturing Capabilities

As an ISO 9001 and ISO13485 certified compression molding factory, NOBLE has thousands of square meters of production workshops, more than 100 compression molding equipment, a complete supply chain, and strict quality inspection processes, allowing you to get impeccable high-precision compression molding parts at competitive prices.

Work with Us in 4 Simple Steps Only

With many years of experience in compression molding manufacturing, NOBLE provides the best solutions for all rapid prototyping and low-volume manufacturing needs. We simplify the innovation cycle into four simple but effective steps.

Upload Your Design

Just simply upload your CAD files and submit RFQs with clear information online.

Receive Design Analysis

We'll send you compression molding designs for manufacturability analysis and transparent pricing.

Start Manufacturing

Our experts will produce your parts using the required compression molding technology and materials.

Receive Your Parts

Your compression molded parts will be delivered directly to your door within strict deadlines.

Compression Molding Tolerances and Standards

With our high-precision compression molding services, NOBLE is your ideal partner for precision-machined prototypes and parts. Our standard CNC machining tolerances for metals are ISO 2768-f and for plastics are ISO 2768-m. We can also achieve special tolerances as long as you specify the requirements in your drawing.

Description	Metric	Inch
Length	3000	118
Width	2500	98.4
Height	2000	78.7
Hole Diameters	±0.005 mm	±0.002 inch
Linear Dimension	±0.01 mm	±0.004 inch
DRILLED HOLE DIAMETERS	+/-0.005”	Holes Equal or Lesser than 1”
SLOTS	+/-0.010”	Slot Equal to or Lesser than 1” Any Direction
FORMED MEASUREMENTS < 6″ 6″ – 12″ 12″ – 18″ > 18″	+/-0.015″ +/-0.025″ +/-0.030″ +/-0.030″ +/-0.002″ per inch	Tolerance and size increase proportionally

Materials for Compression Molding

As a professional on-demand manufacturer, NOBLE offers a variety of compression molding materials to meet customers’ unique requirements. In compression molding, thermosetting plastics, rubbers, and composites are widely used because they can undergo a curing process and achieve a stable, rigid form. The following are some materials that can be used for compression molding. We also provide material modification services. Our professional material engineers will adjust the raw material formula to meet the unique usage conditions and special needs of customers.

Elastomer and Rubber

Elastomers and rubbers are common materials for compression molding processes. The following are various compression molding materials that NOBLE offers to meet the unique requirements of our customers.

Plastic Materials

Thermoset plastic materials can be used in compression molding processes due to their excellent heat resistance and dimensional stability. NOBLE offers a variety of thermoset plastic compression molding materials to meet the unique requirements of our customers.

Thermoplatic-Rubber

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) have excellent elasticity, flexibility, and resilience and can be used in compression molding processes. NOBLE offers a variety of thermoplastic elastomer molding materials to meet the unique requirements of our customers. Please view NOBLE’s thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) materials.

Surface Finishes for Compression Molding Services

NOBLE provides excellent compression molding surface treatment services, and efficient surface treatments improve the functionality and aesthetics of parts. Our experienced experts will select the right surface treatment for your compression molding project, ensuring that your compression molded parts meet the highest standards of performance and aesthetics.

Glossy

The Class A surface is made by the diamond polishing process, which is smooth and highly reflective, giving the product a beautiful and shiny appearance, and can produce a shiny and smooth surface on compression molded parts.

Semi-glossy

The Class B finish has a low reflective sheen, a smooth and slightly glossy appearance, and uses coarse sandpaper to produce parts with a slightly rougher surface than the Class A finish. Custom compression molded parts with a Class B finish have a matte surface texture.

Matte

C-grade polishing uses grit to create a rough, non-reflective, dull appearance. Often used for parts where glare or light reflection is undesirable. Compression-molded parts that have been C-grade polished have a matte surface texture.

Textured

D-Class D finish uses grit and dry glass beads or oxides to produce a very rough textured surface, which can provide a better grip or a unique look to compression molded parts. Depending on the type of material used, compression molded parts can have a satin or dull finish.

Quality Inspections for Our Compression Molding Service

NOBLE’s experienced engineers have the expertise and experience to meet your specific needs, can undertake complex and challenging compression molding projects, and strictly implement our strict quality inspection process to ensure that you get low-cost, high-precision compression molded parts.

Custom Compression Molding Parts Display

From prototyping to compression molding for customers at competitive prices, which showcases some of our finished high-quality consistent-performance compression molding parts, trust us to create your compression molding project according to your exacting specifications.

See What Our Customers Say About Us

Check out our over ten years of custom compression molding services, including our valued customers’ precision compression molding prototypes and parts.

We had a pleasant communication with the NOBLE staff. Their project engineers were very experienced and helped me optimize the design, select the appropriate process, and reduce costs, and the quality of the manufactured parts far exceeded my expectations.

I have worked with the NOBLE team in the past and they always produce quality compression molded parts perfectly. Their responsiveness and ability to quote within a day make them my first choice. They are also very communicative and are able to get to the bottom of my compression molded design needs or ask questions to ensure they can do the job perfectly.

I had a very pleasant experience working with NOBLE. Communication was very accurate and prompt from the beginning. Details in the design that might cause production difficulties were pointed out promptly and a perfect compression molding solution was proposed, and the price of the prototype design was very competitive. The quality control of the final product was also excellent. I will use them again.

NOBLE continues to exceed my expectations. I have been with them for over 3 years now and every interaction with them reminds me how glad I am to have found them. I have used many overseas machine shops over the years and NOBLE is so much better than all the others that I can’t even really compare them. Communication is very smooth, they always deliver on time, and the quality is exceptional. The prices are a little higher than what I have paid elsewhere, but well worth it in my opinion. I have complete confidence that NOBLE will deliver on their promises and it is such a breeze to work with them.

Compression Molding Service for Various Industries

Compression molding is a widely used manufacturing process that involves placing a thermoplastic polymer material in an open, heated mold cavity. The material is then compressed under pressure to take on the shape of the mold. The compression molding industry is constantly innovating, driven by progress and the growing demand for sustainable and lightweight solutions across industries. The following are the main applications:

Robotics Industry

Compression molding plays a key role in the robotics industry and is the best choice for manufacturing high-performance and structural parts for robots. Compression molding is able to produce lightweight and high-strength robotic parts with complex geometries, precision, and cost-effectiveness. From structural frames to end effectors and electronic housings, the compression molding process supports the design and functionality of robots in a variety of applications. With advances in material science and molding technology, the future of robotic compression molding will continue to grow and innovate.

If you are looking for a rapid prototyping manufacturer or a CNC machine shop to fabricate small, medium-volume, or mass-production products, NOBLE is an ideal choice.Our well-trained and experienced staff manufactures parts in line with drawings on modern CNC machines, with the highest accuracy and processing quality in all sizes.In addition, we provide professional design considerations for your CNC machining projects.

Want to get the most professional and fastest service for your CNC machining project? Upload your CAD files now and obtain a quote!

Compression Molding FAQs

What is Compression Molding?

Compression molding is a thermoplastic or thermoset material processing process, which is often used to manufacture high-strength, high-durability parts. The process is performed by placing plastic or composite materials into the opening of the mold, softening the material under high temperature and pressure conditions, and forming it into the shape of the mold.

What fields are compression molding used in?

Compression molding is widely used in the automotive, aviation, electronics, construction, and household goods fields, and is often used to manufacture parts such as car bumpers, electrical housings, industrial components, and composite panels. Its advantages include the ability to produce parts with complex shapes, high efficiency, and low waste, but it may also have a higher initial cost due to higher equipment requirements.

What are the advantages of compression molding?

Compression molding has several advantages that make it a top choice for industries such as automotive, electrical, aerospace, and construction. It is used to manufacture components such as gaskets, bumpers, housing units, and composite panels.

Cost-effectiveness of large parts: Compared with other molding processes, compression molding is well suited to produce large and heavy parts at a relatively low cost, especially in medium and large batches.
Material versatility: It is suitable for a variety of materials, including thermosets, thermoplastics, and composites, for different applications.
High strength and durability: The parts produced by this process have excellent mechanical properties, including high strength and durability, suitable for demanding applications such as automotive and aerospace components.
Complex shapes and large sizes: Compression molding can handle complex designs and large parts, with flexibility in part geometry and size.
Minimal material waste: Unlike some other molding processes, compression molding produces less material waste, making it more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Good surface finish: The parts produced generally have a smooth surface finish, reducing the need for additional finishing operations.
High production efficiency: The process is relatively fast and efficient and can achieve high output in a production environment.
Inserts can be integrated: Compression molding allows metal or other inserts to be integrated during the molding process, thereby expanding the functionality of complex parts.

How Does Compression Molding Work？

Compression molding is a manufacturing process that uses heat and pressure to shape a material into a desired shape. Compression molding involves preheating a fixed amount of molding material and compressing it into the desired shape using two heated molds. A step-by-step description of the compression molding process is as follows:

Material preparation: The raw materials, usually thermoset resins, thermoplastics, or composites, are pre-weighed and placed in the mold. The materials can be in various forms, such as powders, granules, flakes, or preforms.
Heating the mold: The mold is preheated to the required processing temperature. This ensures that the material can flow properly and form the shape of the mold.
Loading the material: The prepared material is placed in the open mold cavity. The placement ensures that the pressure is evenly distributed when applied.
Compression and molding: The mold is closed and high pressure is applied to compress the material. The heat and pressure make the material flow and fill the mold cavity, forming the shape. For thermoset materials, this step also triggers the curing process, which hardens the material and permanently fixes it.
Cooling and curing: The material is under heat and pressure for a specified time to ensure that it is fully cured (for thermoset materials) or cooled and solidified (for thermoplastics). The time required depends on the material and the complexity of the part.
Demolding: After the material solidifies, the mold opens and the finished part is ejected. Care is taken during the removal process to avoid damaging the component.
Trimming and finishing: Excess material, called burrs, is trimmed away. If required, other finishing operations such as painting, coating, or machining may be applied.

What are the factors that affect compression molding?

Several factors can affect the quality and efficiency of the compression molding process. Careful consideration and control of these factors can help improve production efficiency, reduce defects, and produce high-quality compression molded parts. The following are key factors:

Material Selection:
Material Type: Thermosets, thermoplastics, and composites behave differently during the molding process, affecting flow, cure, and strength. Viscosity, cure time, and thermal expansion can affect the molding process and final product quality.
Mold Design:
Shape and Complexity: The geometry of the mold can affect the material’s ability to flow and fill the cavity.
Mold Material: Choose a durable material like steel or aluminum for high strength and heat resistance.
Ventilation: Proper ventilation ensures that trapped gases can escape, preventing defects such as bubbles.
Pressure Application:
Pressure Level: The pressure applied must be sufficient to ensure that the material flows evenly and fills the mold cavity.
Uniformity: Inconsistent pressure can result in uneven thickness or incomplete fill.
Temperature Control:
Heating: The mold must reach and maintain the correct temperature to allow the material to flow and cure or solidify effectively.
Cooling: Controlled cooling prevents warping or shrinkage and ensures that the material solidifies properly.
Material Loading:
Material Amount: Too much material can cause flashing, while too little material can result in an incomplete part.
Placing: Evenly placing the material ensures uniform flow and reduces defects.
Cure Time:
Dwell Time: The duration of heat and pressure applied must match the material’s curing requirements.
Under- or Over-Cure: Improper curing can weaken the part or cause defects.
Mold Surface Finish:
Smooth, clean mold surfaces reduce the need for post-processing and ensure surface quality of the part.
Mold Alignment:
Proper alignment of the mold halves is critical to avoid parting line misalignment or dimensional inaccuracies.
Environmental Factors:
Humidity: Moisture can affect material properties, especially hygroscopic materials such as composites.
Ambient Temperature: Variations can affect the thermal stability of the process.
Operator Skill and Process Control:
Skilled operators and precise control systems ensure consistency and reduce errors in material handling, pressure application, and temperature management.

What is the cycle time for compression molding？

In short, compression molding cycle times typically range from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, depending on factors such as material type, part size and complexity, curing or cooling requirements, and the efficiency of the mold and equipment.

Is compression molding cheaper than injection molding?

Injection molding is better suited for high-volume production, while compression molding is better suited for pliable and flexible materials. For low to medium production volumes and simple parts, compression molding is cheaper because of lower tooling and equipment costs. However, for large-scale production of complex and precision parts, injection molding is more cost-effective because higher tooling costs are offset by economies of scale and faster cycle times.

What types of materials can be used in thermoforming?

Thermoforming primarily uses thermoplastic materials because they soften when heated and can be reshaped. These materials are selected based on properties such as durability, aesthetics, flexibility, clarity, and cost-effectiveness for a particular application. Common types include:

Acrylic (PMMA): Known for its clarity and rigidity.
Polyethylene (PE): Durable and flexible.
Polypropylene (PP): Lightweight and resistant to chemicals.
Polystyrene (PS): Cost-effective and used for disposable items.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): Versatile and strong, available in rigid and flexible forms.
Polycarbonate (PC): Impact-resistant and transparent.
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS): Durable and suitable for complex shapes.

NOBLE only lists a few materials. If you have any questions about materials, Kevin is happy to help you.

What are your quality assurance processes for thermoformed parts?

At NOBLE, we take quality very seriously. We are ISO 9001 certified and ISO13485 certified.

We have trained molding and milling technicians to check the product processing process and have a capable engineering team to set standards.

The strict quality inspection process is as follows:

Material inspection: Verify the quality and specifications of the incoming thermoplastic material.
Tool and mold verification: Ensure that the mold dimensions are accurate and suitable for the design.
In-process monitoring: Check key parameters such as temperature, pressure, and cycle time during the molding process.
Dimensional inspection: Measure the molded part to ensure it meets the design tolerance.
Visual inspection: Check for defects such as warpage, cracks, bubbles, or uneven thickness.
Functional testing: Evaluate part performance according to specific application standards.
Documentation and traceability: Record inspection and test results for accountability.

This structured approach ensures consistency, precision, and reliability of thermoformed parts.

Any quality control process relies on pre-definition, which is why we need drawings from our team or customers. Your parts will be checked against these drawings to ensure compliance.

In the rare case that a product does pass quality control and the customer receives the product but refuses these non-conforming (NCR) parts, we will take responsibility and issue an RMA to rework or replace the product at no charge to the customer.

Is there a minimum order quantity for thermoforming services?

We don’t have a minimum order quantity, but I wouldn’t recommend it because we buy plastic by the sheet, and whether you use it all or not, I’ll have to buy at least one full sheet, which will usually cost you thousands of dollars for compression molding material, and hundreds of dollars for molding and CNC trimming setup material. Then the setup costs are spread out over the part. So if you’re only ordering a few parts, each part could cost over $100, and then add in your tooling costs, which can make tooling expensive.

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Compression Molding Services

One-Stop Custom Compression Molding Services

Our Powerful Compression Molding Processes

Our Excellent Thermoforming Mold Services

Compression Molding Tooling Tolerances and Standards

Our Robust Compression Molding Capabilities

From Prototyping to Manufacturing

Compression Molding Prototyping

Production Tooling

Low-Volume Compression Molding

Why Choose Us for Custom Compression Molding Service

Work with Us in 4 Simple Steps Only

Compression Molding Tolerances and Standards

Materials for Compression Molding

Elastomer and Rubber

Plastic Materials

Thermoplatic-Rubber

Surface Finishes for Compression Molding Services

Glossy

Semi-glossy

Matte

Textured

Quality Inspections for Our Compression Molding Service

Custom Compression Molding Parts Display

See What Our Customers Say About Us

Martin K

Zackery Evans

Thomas

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Compression Molding Service for Various Industries

Automotive Industry

Aerospace Industry

Medical Industry

Consumer Goods

New Energy

Robotics Industry

Compression Molding FAQs

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