Vacuum Casting
Description
Vacuum casting is a low-volume manufacturing process that uses silicone molds to produce high-quality plastic parts that closely resemble injection-molded components. Vacuum cast parts are produced by first creating a high-precision master pattern using 3D printing technologies such as SLA or SLS, which defines the exact geometry and surface finish of the final parts. This master pattern is then used to make a silicone mold, which is poured and cured around the pattern to capture every detail before the pattern is removed. Each silicone mold typically yields around 25–30 parts, depending on the part geometry, overall dimensions, and the chosen casting resin.
Materials Available
- Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
- Polyurethane resin (PR700)
- Polyurethane clear resin (8744E)
- Nylon
- Nylon+GF
- Polypropylene (PP)
Technical Details
- Mechanical Properties: Mimics injection-molded parts.
- Surface Finish: Smooth, high-quality finish, often no further processing needed.
- Dimensional Accuracy: High, typically within ±0.1mm.
- Max Build Size: Limited by silicone mold and vacuum chamber ( 800 x 800mm ).
- Speed of Production: Moderate, 7-10 days for small batches.
Advantages
- Detail and accuracy.
- Cost-efficiency for small batches.
Available colours and finishes
- Colours: All colours are available and can be painted on top during post-processing for an additional fee. We use standard automotive-grade paint which is UV-resistant. If a RAL code is provided, we can replicate the exact colour and finish.
- Finishes: Glossy, Semi-gloss, Matt, Dead matt, Powder finish.
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