Molding (process)

One half of a bronze mould for casting a socketed spear head dated to the period 1400-1000 BC. There are no known parallels for this mould.

Molding is the process of manufacturing by shaping pliable raw material using a rigid frame or model called a mold.

A mold or mould is a hollowed-out block that is filled with a liquid like plastic, glass or metal. The liquid hardens or sets inside the mold, adopting its shape. A mold is the opposite of a cast (see casting). The manufacturer who makes the molds is called moldmaker or mouldmaker.

Types of molding include:
* Powder metallurgy and ceramics
** Compaction plus sintering
* Plastics
** Injection molding
** Compression molding
** Transfer molding
** Extrusion molding
** Blow molding
** Rotational molding
** Thermoforming
*** Vacuum forming, a simplified version of thermoforming
** Reaction Injection Molding
** Laminating
** Expandable bead molding
** Foam molding
** Rotomolding
** Vacuum plug assist molding
** Pressure plug assist molding
** Matched mold