Vacuum Casting Service
We offer cost-effective vacuum casting products and parts prototyping and low-volume manufacturing services.
- Fast Pricing Quote with Free DFM Feedback
- Rapidly-made Prototypes in a Few Days
- High-Precision Capabilities
- Flexible Low-volume manufacturing
Vacuum Casting
Vacuum casting is a type of casting process, which is a great way to create a prototype when you need multiple parts or multiple colors. The process produces cast polyurethane parts that are low cost and have properties similar to injection-molded thermoplastics. It is also known as urethane casting or silicone molding.
Vacuum Casting Technical Specifications
| Standard Lead Time | Up to 10 copies within 14 days |
| Standard Tolerance | ±0.3% (with a lower limit on ± 0.3 mm on dimensions smaller than 100 mm) |
| Minimum Wall Thickness | To ensure that the mold is filled properly, a wall thickness of at least 0.75 mm is necessary. 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) and by the volume of the product (maximum volume: 10 liters) |
| Typical Quantities | Up to 25 copies per mold (depending on the mold’s complexity and the casting materials) |
| Surface Structure | High-quality surface finish comparable to injection molding |
What is Vacuum Casting
Vacuum casting, also known as urethane casting, is a quick, cost-effective method for producing prototype parts and low volume plastic parts in small quantities.
This process is ideal for companies that need functional prototypes or production-quality parts without having to invest in tooling or expensive, time-consuming 3D printing processes.
With vacuum casting, you can order anywhere from 5 to 500 parts at a time and have them delivered within 2 weeks of receipt of an approved 3D model.
Vacuum Casting Process - How Does it Work
A master model or pattern is produced by whatever means is appropriate for the material it will be made from (such as CNC machining, stereolithography, etc.). This master model forms one half of the mold and it contains all the details of the part you wish to reproduce. Using this master, a silicone rubber mold is created by injecting two-component silicone rubber into the cavity around the master model. Once this has cured a rigid outer mold box is attached and then filled with two-part liquid urethane resin. The vacuum chamber draws air through the resin and out of the molds curing chamber, reducing air bubbles in the finished castings. After a few minutes the silicone rubber can be stripped away to reveal up to 20 cast parts from each mold, depending on its size and complexity.
Advantages of Vacuum Casting
- High Flexibility on Mold Design
- Different Colors, Textures & Finishes Available
- Lower Tooling Cost and Saving Time
- Reduced Lead Times, Faster to Market
- Ability to Cast Multiple Materials
- Better High / Low temperature Performance
- Excellent Physical Properties
- Abrasion Resistance
- Reduction of Noise
- Eco-friendly
Materials for Vacuum Casting
Polypropylene (PP) like (80D)
Polycarbonate (PC) like (75D)
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) like (83D)
PE-like (65D)
Santoprene-like
Thermoplastic Polyolefins (TPO or TPE-O) like
Talc-Filled Polypropylene like
Glass-Filled Nylon like
Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) like
Fire-Retardant (FR) PU like (78D, 80D, 85D)
High Impact (85D, 88D, 80D – 90D)
Polyamide (PA) like (80D)
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) + High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) like (70D)
Elastomer like (60A, 65A, 70A, 90A, 95A)
Polyurethane (PUR or PU) like (25A, 30A 40A, 50A, 60A, 70A, 80A, 84D, 85A, 90A)
Surface Finish Options for Vacuum Casting Parts
Surface finish is applied to parts after they have been machined to create a unique surface layer to meet the hardness, chemical resistance, and appearance requirements of the products. It depends on material properties and the application of the part. LEADRP offers the following finishing options for injection molded parts services:
Full Gloss is an Grade-A finish made by polishing, and it creates glossy surfaces on injection molded parts.
SPI Standard: A1, A2, A3
Semi-Gloss is a grade-B finish options made by grit sandpaper, and it creates a slightly rougher finish than grade-A parts.
SPI Standard: B1, B1, B3
Matte is a Grade-C finish options made bygrit sanding stones, and it creates a non-glossy surface texture.
SPI Standard: C1, C2, C3
D grade texture finishes is a much rougher finishes are made by abrasive blasting with sand or glass beads.Â
SPI Standard: D1, D1, D3
Alternaltives for Vacuum Casting
LEADRP applies a variety of vacuum casting techniques and equipment to improve the speed and ability to cope with your prototyping and mass production applications. But, For vacuum casting product and parts with tight tolerance requirements, CNC machining or injection molding will be a better choice.
Vacuum Casting Samples
Why LEADRP
At LEADRP, we use a variety of rapid prototyping techniques to produce engineering parts, prototypes, and complete working products. Since starting our business in 2006, we have put a lot of effort into our facilities and people to offer more competitive services than many other companies in rapid prototyping and manufacturing.
Quick Response
With experienced engineering and operations team to help you with instant quotations, production, and delivery.
Rich Industry Experience
We help to dealing with varying requirements of material and tolerance in the most challenging industries since 2006 .
Quality Guarantee
As an ISO certified company, we always ensure our products and services comply with international standards.
How We Works
Instant Quote
Send us 2D & 3D design files, then get free DFM feedback and quotes in a few hours.
Production
Once the quote and order are confirmed, production starts in a few hours.
Delivery & Receive
After passing quality inspections, the parts are carefully packed and ready for shipment.
Served Industries
LEADRP is a leading provider of rapid prototyping service and low-volume manufacturing service for mission-critical applications in the Aerospace, Automotive, Medical & Life Science, Oil & Gas, Food and Beverage industries, Semiconductor and more.
Aerospace
Bracket, turbines, handles, and more.
Automotive
Grills, handles, decos, and more.
Architecture
Sculptures, mockups, and more.
Medical
Dental, implants, surgical models, and more.
Consumer Products
Household, electronics housings, and more.
Chemical
Polyurethanes, die castings, chemical resistance parts, and more.
Oil and Gas
Fluoropolymer, silicone rubbers, and more.
Food and Beverage
Food-grade plastics and engineering polymers, and more.