Rock and roll machine
This is a specialized single arm machine. It rotates or rolls the mold 360 degrees in one direction and at the same time tips and rocks the mold 45 degrees above or below horizontal in the other direction.

Newer machines use forced hot air to heat the mold. These machines are best for large parts that have long length-to-width ratio. Because of the smaller heating chambers, there is a saving in heating costs.

Clamshell machine
This is a single arm rotational molding machine. The arm is usually supported by other arms on both ends. The clamshell machine heats and cools the mold in the same chamber. It takes up less space than equivalent shuttle and swing arm rotational molders. It is low in cost compared to the size of products made. It is available in smaller scales for schools interested in prototyping and for high quality models. More than one mold can be attached to the single arm.

Vertical or up & over rotational machine
The loading and unloading area is at the front of the machine between the heating and cooling areas. These machines vary in size between small to medium compared to other rotational machines. Vertical rotational molding machines are energy efficient due to their compact heating and cooling chambers. These machines have the same ability of the horizontal carousel multi-arm machines but take up a much smaller space.

Shuttle or swing arm machine
This is a single arm turret machine that moves the mold back and forth between the heating and cooling chambers. This machine moves the mold in a linear direction in and out of heating and cooling chambers. It is low in cost for the size of product produced. It is also available in smaller scale for schools and prototyping.

Carousel machine
This is one of the most common machines in the industry. It can have up to 6 arms and comes in a wide range of sizes. The machine comes in two different models, fixed and independent. A fixed carousel consists of 3 fixed arms that must move together. One arm will be in the heating chamber while the other is in the cooling chamber and the other in the loading/reloading area. The fixed carousel works well when working with the same mold. The independent carousel machines are available with more arms that can move separately from the others. This allows for different size molds, with different heating and thickness needs.