RF Welding Tooling Dies

An RF-welded product relies on good design and proper engineering to achieve optimal functionality. A manufacturer benefits from understanding the requirements and expectations for how and where the product will be used before beginning the production phase. As important as material selection is, the RF and heat-seal tooling are just as critical to success. These precision RF sealing dies are used to configure the product into the correct shape, create welded seams for strength and functionality, and add salient characteristics such as handles, loops, straps, tubes, and nozzles, to name a few. Whether you need custom RF welding tooling services for high-frequency applications or specialized heat seal tooling for your manufacturing process, the right tooling dies ensure consistent, reliable results in every production run.

Manufacturing Flexible Products with RF Welding Tooling Dies

When fabricating RF-welded flexible containment products designed to contain, inflate, or protect, numerous manufacturing variables contribute to product success. Products requiring inflation or containment capabilities depend on RF welding tooling services and heat seal tooling to create leak-proof, airtight seals. These precision RF sealing dies produce welded seams found throughout industrial, medical, and manufacturing applications. From containment systems to inflatable structures, properly engineered RF welding tooling ensures each seal meets the exact specifications required for optimal product performance and reliability.

Many Soft Goods Products Require Heat Seal Tooling Dies

There are many processes that factor into the quality and strength of a welded seal. Tooling dies are most often used to complete a seal, but other important factors, such as tooling layout, the material thickness, weld thickness, and machine control, are also critical in creating an effective seal.

Radio Frequency Welding & Tooling

Radio frequency (RF) welding is the best sealing technique to use with tooling dies because it provides a quality hermetic seal with the completeness of the weld. These welds are expected to have great tear resistance and also be resistant to abrasion, which adds long-term durability to the product. In the design and/or prototype stages, these welds are subjected to optical tests, pull tests, and leak tests to evaluate whether the seal was properly executed.

Material & Die Selection

The tooling die is the biggest factor for completing a seal when combining the right RF welding materials with the right welding process. If set correctly, a perfect and impervious seal is attainable with the tooling die in both the testing procedures and the final manufacturing run.

Tooling Die Types & Purpose

Tooling Dies come in many types, each serving a specific purpose in product fabrication:

  1. Single Cycle Tooling Sets: Are typically used to weld flat seams when positioning is important. More than 2 layers of material are OK.
  2. Upper Tooling Dies: Can be used with machine bed plates for flat welds where positioning is not critical. More than 2 layers of material are OK.
  3. High Dies: Are used to weld a third dimension to a sub-assembly. Typically not used with more than 2 layers of material. Positioning is extremely critical.
  4. Bottom Action Dies: Are used when multiple layers or configurations require exact positioning; more than 2 layers of material are OK.
  5. Dual Cycle Tooling: Is used to create perimeter seals and tube welds in different areas of the product where positioning is critical. More than 2 layers are OK.

SealWerks will provide you with design input, material selection, and the experience to determine the most effective tooling die to use that will successfully meet the manufacturing goals of your product.

Custom Tooling Dies Made to Fit Any Need

Tooling dies are produced in materials such as brass, aluminum, and other metals, which can significantly impact cost. While a limited number of standardized dies are available for certain applications and can offer a cost-effective solution, unique designs often require custom tooling. Because custom dies represent a larger investment, it’s important to define key factors, such as the sealing process and material selection, early in the design phase to ensure the right fit and performance.

Our team works closely with you to evaluate these considerations upfront, helping guide efficient decisions and support long-term performance.

Soft Tooling Dies for Prototypes

Soft tooling dies are an option for new product prototyping or re-engineering existing products. They are used to evaluate whether the design and weld process will achieve the desired results before a metal tooling die is produced. However, due to variations in design complexity, materials, and application requirements, soft tooling is not always feasible for every configuration or product.

  • They are less expensive and made from wood or plastic materials with brass or aluminum electrodes.
  • They are typically used for testing new or reconfigured products, as a means to determine whether the design will meet the required results.
  • They are used as a way to reduce cost by refining the layout, material selection, and process requirements before committing to the expense of a production-grade tooling die.

Soft tooling dies are not intended for full-scale manufacturing. While they are effective for early-stage validation, they do not offer the same level of durability, precision, repeatability, or process control as production tooling dies. Because of this, they are not ideal for high-volume production where consistency and efficiency are critical.

Welding Dies Inflation Tube
Most tooling dies are a two piece assembly, a top and bottom that creates a specific consistent weld.

RF Welding and Heat Sealing for Custom Products

SealWerks offers RF welding services and heat sealing to create welds that range from tiny spot welds to large continuous welding patterns. We are committed to a robust QMS program and are certified to provide workable solutions for the scale and cost targets you want to achieve.

Contact Sealwerks today to find out the necessary steps you need for the successful manufacturing of your custom flexible product.

Miniform

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an RF sealing tooling die?

An RF sealing die is a precision-engineered metal tool used in radio frequency welding to create strong, permanent bonds between thermoplastic materials. These specialized RF welding tooling components apply controlled pressure and RF energy to specific areas of the material, generating heat that fuses the layers at a molecular level. The die’s design determines the seal pattern, width, and configuration of the final weld. Quality RF sealing dies are typically made from brass, aluminum, or steel and are custom-machined to exact specifications for each unique application, ensuring consistent, airtight seals in production.

Do you offer custom RF welding tooling?

Yes, we specialize in custom RF welding tooling services designed to meet your specific manufacturing requirements. Our engineering team designs and manufactures custom heat seal tooling and RF sealing dies based on your product specifications, material types, and production volumes. Whether you need complex multi-cavity dies, specialized seal patterns, or unique configurations for medical, industrial, or commercial applications, our custom RF welding tooling solutions ensure optimal seal integrity and production efficiency. We work closely with clients from initial concept through final production to deliver tooling that meets exact performance standards.