Compression molding

So, imagine that you want to make a toy with a certain shape. But you don't want to just cut it out of a big piece of material, because then you'd be left with a lot of waste material that you cannot use anymore. Instead, you want to make it in a way that doesn't waste so much material. That's where compression molding comes in.

Compression molding is a way of making things by squeezing or compressing a material into a mold until it takes on the shape you want. The process works like this:

First, you take a material that can be molded, like plastic or rubber. It needs to be in a certain form, like small pellets, sheets, or even secret concoctions made of different materials.

Then, you put this material into a big machine called a compression molding press. Inside the machine, there is a mold, which is kind of like a big cookie cutter. The mold is shaped like the object you want to make.

Next, the machine starts to work. It heats up the material inside, which makes it soft and gooey. Then, it presses it inside the mold with a lot of force. This pressure makes the material take on the shape of the mold.

Finally, the machine cools off the material and the mold, and you can take the object out. It's now in the shape of the mold!

That's how compression molding works. You can make all kinds of things like car parts, toys, kitchen gadgets, and even the soles of your shoes using this method. It's a great way to make things with less waste material and to make sure they're all the same shape and size.