Key Insight #1 — Know Your Stuff

I get a lot of questions about the overmolding process and what is the best approach to use when looking to protect sensitive electronic equipment and parts. People want to know how safe the overmolding process is, what types of electronics should it be used to protect etc… So I decided to create a series of key insights about topics that I often talk to clients about.

The first thing to do is make sure you know your stuff –what exactly is the overmolding and what is low pressure overmolding (LPO)?

Low pressure overmolding (LPO)  is a process typically used to encapsulate and environmentally protect electronic components (such as circuit boards, switches and sensors) with polyamides (plastic). The purpose is to protect electronics against moisture, dust dirt and vibration. It is also used for sealing connectors and molding grommets and strain reliefs.  Polyamides used in the (LPO) process are melted in a tank and then pumped into the overmold tooling at high temperatures between 250 and 450 Fahrenheit.  This process is completely safe for overmolding pcb assemblies with LED’s, wire harnesses, buttons and most other common components associated with a pcb assembly. There are various LPO processes and while the typical LPO temperatures range between 250 -450 degrees Fahrenheit, Overmold Express is also proficient with room-temperature overmolding processes.

People want to know if the overmolding process is safe for all types of projects. One item that the overmolding process can damage are batteries.  Some batteries can withstand 176 degrees Fahrenheit but that is still well below the melting temperature of the molding compound.  At Overmold Express we do have some options available that allow us to use the (LPO) process for molding assemblies with batteries in certain circumstances where we are able to guarantee the integrity of the battery packs being overmolded.

If you have an overmolding project that sounds similar to any of the information I  have just covered, I invite you to give us a call because we understand that all projects are unique and have specific details that require a customized approach.  We would love to discuss your project and help you decide if your needs are a good fit for the overmolding process.  Please visit us online at overmoldexpress.com to see what kind of projects we have completed in the past or to request a quote.  We would love the opportunity to earn your trust and your business

Sincerely,

John Schriner