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	RIM	Injection Molding
	(Thermoset	(Thermoplastic		(Glass-filled
parameter	Urethane)
		Urethane)		EPDM)
tools
construction	Nickel electroform;	Machined steel		Machined steel
weight, lb	machined aluminum
	1,300	13,000		13,000
weight, kg	600,	6,000		6,000
cost, $	60,000	125,000		125,000
lead time	20 weeks	28 weeks		28 weeks
equipment
molding machine weight, lb	10,000	120,000		120,000
molding machine weight, kg	4,500	54,000		54,000
cost of material and mold
handling equipment per
molding station	$60,000	$300,000		$300,000
floor space required, sq. ft.	70	400		400

Material:	Urethane	EPDM, glass-filled
process:	RIM	Thermoset injection molding
nominal thickness, in.	0.120	0.120
specific gravity	0.95	1.25
weight per sq.ft., lb	0.59	0.78
raw material cost/lb	$0.60	$0.55
raw material cost/sq.ft.	$0.35	$0.43
process factors
cycle time, min	3.0	3.0
press capacity, tons	100	3000
floor space required, sq.ft.	100	500
paintability	Excellent	fair

EPDM = Ethylene propylene

46.1.1 References

Becker, W. E., editor, Reaction Injection Molding, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 1979.