IMD (IML, IMR, IMF)

IMD, also known as in-mold decoration process, is a process technology that combines product design, mold technology and traditional post-processing technology into one by placing the printed film into the mold in different forms and then injecting it into the mold to obtain a molded product with a printed texture.

IMD is an internationally popular surface decoration technology, mainly used in the surface decoration of home appliances and functional panels, commonly used in cell phone window lens and shell, washing machine control panel, refrigerator control panel, air conditioning control panel, automobile dashboard, rice cooker control panel and other areas of the panel, logo and other exterior parts.

Conceptually, IMD contains IML, IMF, IMR, is the general name of their three processes, but many domestic industry people will IML independent of IMD, IMR called IMD process, because IML and IMF process consistent, so grouped into two categories: IMD/IMR, IML/IMF. the main reason is in IML and IMR in the lens surface different, IML surface with PET or PC sheet, while IMR surface only ink.

- IML: INMOLDINGLABEL (printing adhesive and plastic combination) (the surface is a hardened transparent film, the middle is the printing pattern layer, the back is the plastic layer, ink sandwiched in the middle) (process flow: cutting material → plane printing → ink drying fixed → paste protective film → punch positioning holes → thermoforming → shear peripheral shape → material injection molding)

- IMF: INMOLDINGFILM (roughly the same as IML) (suitable for high stretch products, 3D products)

- IMR: INMOLDINGROLLER (focus on the release layer on the adhesive. PETFILM → printing release agent → printing ink → printing adhesive → internal plastic injection → ink and plastic bonding → after opening the mold, the adhesive will automatically be released from the ink. (Japan called thermal transfer)

At present, IMD has two manufacturing methods, one is to print the pattern on the film, the printed Film film made into a circular roller roll tape, installed into the injection molding machine and injection mold, like a label Label attached to the front of the mold surface fully automatic cycle with mobile production out, that is, people called IMD (in the mold transfer injection molding); the other is the Film film printed after the molding machine The other type of film is produced by printing the film through the forming machine and then placing it into the injection mold after cutting. This is called IML (Injection Molding in Mould). In layman's terms, the difference between the two is that one has a film and the other does not.

IMT

IMT (InnerMoldingTranslatelabel) or (InsertMoldingThree-dimensional) is a new process that is a combination and extension of the In-Mold Insert Molding (IML: In-MoldLabel) technology and In-Mold Transfer (IMR: In-moldRoller) technology. The IMT process is currently used in mobile phones. At present, the IMT process is applied to the plastic housing of cell phones.

IMT process brings together the advantages of a variety of decorative processes, adopting the advantages of IML process in FILM production, absorbing the advantages of IMR process injection molding into the in-mold transfer, combining digital printing and offset printing effect and traditional screen printing process, so that IMT process is highly applicable, widely used, to make up for the limitations of the traditional appearance of the decorative process, to meet the high level of innovation in product appearance decoration requirements. The 3D three-dimensional effect and product stretching meet the in-mold decoration process of more products.

The emergence of the IMT process will replace the current industry of oil spraying, UV shading, electroplating, vacuum color plating, screen printing, pad printing and transfer printing processes, will drive the product appearance industry leapfrogging innovation, the realization of three-dimensional, color gradient, R-angle and other irregular product appearance decorative effects, while providing a better innovation and platform for the appearance of the design industry to achieve.

IME

In order to adapt to the current automotive de-buttoning, better human-vehicle interaction, blind operation, the integration of printed electronics and IMD, the high performance electronic paste printed on IMD film, the circuit, touch, antenna, LED, IC, etc. concentrated in one part, 3D modeling, the thickness of only 2 mm. It further expands design freedom, saves assembly time and cost, and makes the product smaller and thinner. This has resulted in a new process: 3DIME (3DIn-MoldElectronics), a three-dimensional in-mold electronics process. IME is the next step in the extension of the IMD process.

3DIME is used in new energy vehicles, aircraft, home appliances, consumer electronics and other industrial fields, and is a key technology for "smart skin" or "electronic skin". Editor

3DIME technology is an innovative process developed on the basis of IMD and three-dimensional circuit technology, which is a thin-film surface decoration technology for bare "three-dimensional circuits", thus giving electronic functions to plastic products. Automotive manufacturers use this to enhance the product grade.

OMD (OMR, OMF)

OMD, or out-of-mold decoration process, is an exterior decoration process extended by IMD. It is a 3D surface decoration technology that combines printing, texture structure and metallization characteristics. The appearance can realize the effect of imitation metal brushing, imitation native wood grain, leather, painting, stone grain, etc. It is possible to complete 3D curved product form with three-dimensional and large height.

Mainly includes OMF and OMR two kinds:

- Extended IMD/IMR technology; out-side of IMR, OMR technology;

- Extended IML/IMF technology; film direct Forming to affix workpieces, OMF technology;

OMR (Release) is a technology that prints a pattern on a transparent film and then uses high pressure vacuum transfer to directly coat the graphic on a plastic (or metal) surface to form a "three-dimensional coating". oMR (ReleaseFilm) must be removed from the film after the transfer is completed, and there is no film covering the outer layer of the workpiece.

OMF (FormingFilm) is a film covered material, the outer layer of the workpiece is covered with material to protect the product OMF only opens a general injection mold, no need to open a high pressure mold or punching die, significantly reducing mold costs and increasing customer development willingness. The products can be wrapped with the same OMR, mostly used in high quality automotive interior devices, aviation and transportation tools decoration, 3C and medical equipment, etc.