Color Matters for Process Control
The off-white colored rubber used for this specialty 6" long roller, was chosen to insure that the process could be visually controlled. When a thin film is run over the roller, grooves are worked into the film. The grooves are then filled with a row of seeds that germinate under specially controlled conditions. By using an off-white material, the automated process can be visually controlled - something that would not have been possible with a black rubber roller because black rubber shows not shadows.
The part requires a special rubber formula that includes only FDA approved ingredients, and the rubber is bonded to a steel sleeve that hold the roller bearings. The low durometer of the material (20 on the Shore A scale) requires special processing techniques to insure proper flow and bonding of the insert, without discoloration.
The molded rubber parts pictured are not in stock or for sale. These are examples of custom-manufactured products that illustrate Custom Rubber Corp.'s capabilities.