The discussion regarding the Preformer machinery utilized in the production of the oil seal

The discussion regarding the Preformer machinery utilized in the production of the oil seal.

What’s the the Preforming machine ?

Pre-forming is the process of using specialized machinery to pre-form the mixed rubber compound into intermediate products that closely match the final shape, size, and weight of the oil seal cross-section before placing them in molds for vulcanization and shaping.

1. How does the preforming machine work in the production of the oil seal?

The typical oil seal production process is: Mixed rubber compound -> Pre-forming -> Vulcanization -> Trimming/post-treatment.

Pre-forming serves as a bridge between "rubber compound preparation" and "final vulcanization".

1.1 The role of Quantification and Shaping:

Pre-forming machines can precisely cut and extrude the set amount of rubber compound.

By changing different die molds (pre-forming dies), rubber blanks that match the final shape of the oil seal can be produced, such as:

• O-ring-shaped rubber strips: for smaller standard oil seals.
• Specific cross-section ring-shaped rubber blanks: such as complex cross-sections with protrusions.
• Long rubber strips: for cutting and then placing in molds.

1.2 The role of Automation and Continuous Production:

Modern pre-forming machinery is linked with upstream rubber compound open-mixing/feeding machines and downstream automatic weighing and placing robotic arms to achieve fully automated production.

This significantly reduces manual operations and ensures the stability and continuity of the production rhythm.

2. What’s the Advantages of Using Pre-forming Machinery?

2.1 Significantly Improves Production Efficiency and Automation:

Compared to traditional manual cutting, weighing, and kneading of rubber blanks, pre-forming machines are dozens of times faster and are a prerequisite for automated production lines.

2.2 Significantly Enhances Product Quality and Consistency:

• Precise weight: The weight error of the rubber blanks can be controlled within ±1%, ensuring consistent rubber content for each oil seal.
• Precise shape: The shape of the rubber blanks better matches the mold cavity, reducing the flow distance and orientation of the rubber compound in the mold cavity, thereby greatly reducing the risks of underfilling, air bubbles, joint marks (especially for molded O-rings), and stress concentration.
• High density: The rubber compound is re-extruded during pre-forming, expelling some air, resulting in higher density of the rubber blanks and fewer internal defects in the vulcanized products.

   ( A sample with size Dia 2mm*2mm) 

2.3 Saves raw materials and reduces costs:

Precise quantitative feeding almost eliminates rubber waste (no excess rubber edges or overly thick flash).

Regularly shaped rubber blanks reduce material loss due to excessive flash and high scrap rates.

2.4 Improves working environment and reduces labor intensity:

"Rubber compound does not come into contact with hands", reducing the contact between operators and rubber compound, which is more in line with the requirements of modern factory cleanliness and ergonomics.

2.5 Optimizes vulcanization process:

Regularly shaped rubber blanks ensure more uniform heating during vulcanization and more consistent vulcanization speed, which helps improve the physical properties and dimensional stability of the products.

3.How to select the appropriate models of Pre-former Machinery to meet your requirements?

• Rubber compound characteristics: Different formulations (such as NBR, FKM, ACM, SIL, etc.) have different flowability, shrinkage, and viscosity, requiring adjustments to the pre-forming working pressure,temperature,speed,and die design.
• Precision requirements: Oil seals in aerospace, high-end automobiles, and other fields have extremely high requirements for dimensional and weight precision and must use high precision pre-forming units.
• Matching with vulcanization processes: Preformed rubber blanks need to be perfectly matched with subsequent transfer molding or injection molding vulcanization processes. The injection/ molding process has relatively flexible requirements for rubber blanks, while transfer molding is highly dependent on precisely preformed rubber blanks.

4.Why is Preformer machinery increasingly utilized in the production of oil seals?

In contemporary oil seal production, preforming machines have evolved from "optional equipment" to "core essential equipment". Their application directly determines the automation level of the production line, the product qualification rate, the material utilization rate, and the reliability of the final product. Without efficient and precise preforming processes, it is infeasible to attain high - quality, low - cost, large - scale, and stable oil seal manufacturing. This represents a crucial step in the progression of oil seal production from traditional manual/semi - automatic modes to modern precision manufacturing.

INTER-CHINA TEAM has a proven track record of successfully implementing pre-forming machinery solutions in the oil seal manufacturing industry. With years of experience and technical expertise, we have collaborated with numerous clients across China and internationally to optimize their production processes. Our pre-forming machinery is designed to enhance precision, improve material utilization, and increase overall efficiency in the early stages of oil seal production. These solutions are particularly effective in ensuring consistent blank shapes, reducing waste, and preparing high-quality preforms for subsequent molding and curing steps.

Contact us for discussion !!!