Plasthældes

Plasthældes is a term found in Danish-language sources describing a plastic pouring process used to form parts by pouring molten or liquid plastic into a mold and letting it solidify. It is not a universal standard, but the concept appears in discussions of alternatives to injection molding and resin casting.

In plasthældes, plastic is heated to a workable molten temperature and poured into a pre-made mold. After filling, the material cools or cures. Molds may be metal, silicone, or durable polymer, and may use thermoplastics or two-component resins.

Materials vary: thermoplastics such as ABS, polystyrene, or PLA are common, depending on temperature compatibility. Epoxy and polyurethane resins are used in resin casting variants. Pigments or fillers can be added to adjust color and properties.

Equipment includes a heat source, a pouring vessel, and a mold. Controls cover temperature and venting to reduce defects. Some variants use vacuum or pressure to improve fill and reduce air pockets.

Applications include rapid prototyping, education, hobbyist projects, and small-volume parts. Plasthældes generally costs less and requires less tooling than injection molding, but may yield lower dimensional accuracy and mechanical strength.

Safety concerns include burns from hot plastic and fumes; proper ventilation and PPE are recommended.

Usage varies by region, and in some contexts plasthældes is used interchangeably with resin casting or plastic casting.