Method for setup and molding of formed articles from thin coated fabrics

A method for molding thin coated fabric diaphragms from thin sheet material on a molding press configurable with two opposing plates for holding respective matching dies and having means for maintaining consistent alignment between said plates when brought together for molding, comprising the following steps:

• immovably positioning a hard die on a first said plate,
• configuring a second said plate with a die cavity opposite said hard die,
• installing said plates on said molding press,
• filling said die cavity with uncured elastomeric material,
• closing said molding press under sufficient heat and pressure to cure said elastomeric material so as to create a molded in place elastomer mating die in said die cavity,
• opening said molding press and trimming excess flash from said mating die,
• emplacing at least one layer of said thin sheet material between said hard die and said mating die,
• closing and forming a said thin coated fabric diaphragm under pressure between said hard die and said mating die, and
• opening said molding press and removing said diaphragm therefrom.

A method for setting up a matched die set for molding formed articles from thin sheet material on a molding press having two opposing plates and means for maintaining consistent alignment between said plates when brought together for molding, comprising the following steps:

• immovably positioning a hard die for a first side of said formed articles on a first of said plates,
• configuring an opposing die cavity on a second of said plates opposite said hard die,
• filling said die cavity with uncured elastomeric material,
• closing said hard die against said elastomeric material under sufficient heat and pressure to cure said elastomeric material so as to create a molded in place elastomer mating die in said die cavity, and
• maintaining said hard die and said elastomer mating die undisturbed in said plates and said plates undisturbed in said press during said molding of said formed articles.