Key Questions to Ask When Ordering Rubber & Plastics Faq

Question 1
Does SUHEG have any standard parts I  can buy off the shelf?
Answer
No. SUHEG is strictly a manufacturer of custom made Moulded rubber  products based on the customer’s furnished drawings and specifications.

Question 2
Does SUHEG have any minimum order  requirements?
Answer
Yes. Our minimum order varies based upon the mold, process and operations being performed. Therefore,  each item is reviewed individually.

Question 3
How much is it going to cost for a mold  and the parts?
Answer
That is difficult to answer because different parts are quoted according to   the customer furnished blueprint and specifications. There are various parts, each with different specifications. They all differ in weight, size,  shape, function, complexity of design, material, etc. In order for us to manufacture new parts, we will need all customers to provide us an existing mold. If that is not possible, we will need to make a new mold. We can  produce single cavity molds for prototyping or small run production and/or multi-cavity molds for large  quantum production.

Question 4
How do I choose a rubber type (Polymer/Elastomer)?
Answer
With years of experience, we have no problem recommending the right kind of rubber or polymer to our customers. It all depends on what application they require it for. Let us know the environment, including temperature, media exposure and other applicable  characteristics required. We will be happy to make our best recommendation of a material to  suit your requirement.

Question 5
What material properties should I consider for my project?
Answer
Among the many physical  properties, you can consider:
• Hardness (durometer)
• Tensile strength
• Tear resistance
• Abrasion resistance
•  Protection from degradation caused by sunlight, oxygen and ozone (“rooftop” conditions)
• Ability to retain properties while exposed to heat or cold
• Resistance to compression set or tension  set
• Resilience

Question 6
What are typical lead tismes?
Answer
Lead times for samples and production quantities  vary, generally averaging 3 to 4 weeks for new tooling/samples and 2 to 3 weeks  for production orders (depending on quantities). Firm times are established at the time of the  actual quote and order receipt.

Question 7
Do you mold Food Grade rubber parts?
Answer
Yes. We do manufacture  food and health care Rubber Products for Pharmaceutical Firms.

General FAQ's on Rubber

Question 1

What is an Elastomer?

Answer

An Elastomer is a material that has the property of  being elastic with resilience or memory sufficient to return to its initial shape after major  or minor distortion within a reasonably short amount of time. This attribute allows rubber materials  to be used for sealing applications where its flexibility is highly important.

Question 2
What Is Natural Rubber?
Answer
Natural rubber  is the rubber material derived directly from the Hevea brasiliensis tree. It is produced by  collecting (tapping) the sap or latex of the tree and then treating the  latex mainly through the addition of ammonia with formic acid., Natural  rubber, which chemically known as Polyisoprene, is processed into end produced using both latex liquid form and  a dry gum form.

Question 3
Are all Synthetic rubbers natural?
Answer
No. Though natural rubber has many outstanding  properties, mainly high strength and toughness, there are plenty of synthetic rubber types which can easily stand up to the same tasks, as well as provide added benefits such as improved aging resistance or chemical resistance.

Question 4
What is durometer?
Answer
Rubber and other soft materials need to be measured for hardness, which is where a durometer is used. It is made of a spring loaded point that is applied to the surface of the rubber, which calculated how resistance it is to indentation of the surface by the point. The Type "A" durometer measures readings up  to 100 (0 being the softest and 100 being the hardest). In order to avoid confusion, the readings from the  Type A durometer should always be referred to with the suffix ‘A’, as there are other durometer scales (00 scale for foam rubber) like the D scale, which is used to measure the hardness of harder plastic-like materials.

Question 5
Can Rubber Be Recycled?
Answer
Unlike most plastics, rubber chemically changes form after being processed. It is known as a thermosetting material and cannot simply be re-melted.

Question 6
How do I properly  store rubber products to maximize shelf life?
Answer
Ultra-violet light & Ozone cause the most damage to  rubber parts in storage. Molded rubber products, whether in bulk or in assemblies, should be  placed in sealed bags and kept in boxes out of direct sunlight, excessive temperatures and  humidity. They should be stored in cool, dark & dry places to maximize shelf life.