Vacuum Casting - Urethane Casting Services
Bridge the Gap From Prototype to Production - Global delivery in 10 days or less
Advantages of Vacuum Casting
we can fabricate your plastic parts to the highest standard, as well as cost-efficient and with fast turnarounds.
1 Fast turnaround
We can provide up to 20 parts in 15 days or less, depending on part specification and volume.
2 Affordability
Silicone molds are less expensive than the tooling used for injection molding, resulting in low prices.
3 Capable of producing large parts
Depending on the type of equipment used, vacuum casting can create very large parts.
4 Superior surface finish to injection molding
The vacuum process removes air bubbles and allows the material to capture fine details.
5 Color options
Coloring pigments can be added to the resin for a variety of color options.
6 Repeatability
Silicone molds can be used around 20 times before they need replacing.
Vacuum Casting Process
Step 1: Master building
Masters are 3D solids of your CAD designs. They are usually made by CNC machining or with 3D Printing. Making Master in 40° temperature. After finish and inspect the masters, we will move to silicone mold making.
Step 2: Mold making
Casting molds are made from liquid silicone. Half-Fill the casting box with liquid silicone, Heat the casting box until silicone is fully cured and then allowed to cure in an oven for 16 hours. Fill with extra silicone liquid which is also heated & cured. Once dried, the mold is cut open and the master removed.
Step 3: Make the parts
Poured the casting resins into the empty cavity to create a highly accurate copy of the original. It’s even possible to overmold with two or more materials. Silicone molds are typically good for 20 or so copies of the master pattern.
Vacuum Casting Technical Specifications
Typical lead time
Up to 20 parts in 15 days or less, depends on the part specification and volumes.
Accurate
± 0.3% (with lower limit on ± 0.3 mm on dimensions smaller than 100 mm)
Typical quantities
Up to 25 copies per mold (depending on the mold’s complexity and the casting materials)
Color & Finishing
Pigment is added to the liquid polyurethane prior to casting, custom painting and texture.
Minimum wall thickness
For best results, we recommend a wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm
Maximum part dimensions
The size of the mold is limited by the dimensions of the vacuum chamber (1900 x 900 x 750 mm)
Mold Making FAQ's
Why Would I Choose Urethane Casting Over Injection Molding?
Urethane casting is a more affordable alternative to IM, especially in low volumes. It also offers unique advantages like an excellent surface finish.
Can I Make Production-Quality Parts Using Urethane Casting?
Urethane casting is best for making visually impressive prototypes, but it can also be used for non-mechanical end-use parts like cases and covers.
What Happens To The Silicone Mold(S)? Can I Keep Them?
The silicone molds used in urethane casting have a short lifespan, typically around 20 moldings, so we dispose of them after use.
If you wish to keep the 3D printed or CNC machined master model, talk to us directly.
Put your parts
into production today
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