Sep 11, 2026Material Notes
5 Key Factors to Consider When Designing Custom Silicone Products
Five critical design factors: material selection, wall thickness, draft angles, tolerances, and production volume planning for custom silicone products.
5 Key Factors to Consider When Designing Custom Silicone Products
Designing a custom silicone product involves more than just creating a shape. Here are five factors that can make or break your project:
- Material Selection Different applications require different silicone grades. Food-grade silicone (FDA/LFGB) for kitchenware, medical-grade (ISO 10993) for healthcare, and industrial-grade for mechanical components.
- Wall Thickness Uniform wall thickness prevents defects during molding. Avoid sharp transitions between thick and thin sections, which can cause tearing or incomplete filling.
- Draft Angles Proper draft angles (typically 1-3 degrees) ensure smooth demolding without damaging the product. This is especially important for textured surfaces.
- Tolerance Requirements Define your dimensional tolerances early. Compression molding typically achieves ±0.1mm, while injection and LSR molding can reach ±0.05mm or better.
- Production Volume Your expected volume affects both the molding method and mold design. Low-volume projects may benefit from compression molding, while high-volume runs are better suited for injection or LSR molding.
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