Vacuum Casting Service
Vacuum casting, which is using a master prototype to make a silicone mould, and then produce the reproduction via pouring the material into the silicone mould. This tech is usually used for small batches production because the cost of the silicone mould is lower than the steel mould. Also, the production lead time of vacuum casting is shorter than other process, such as CNCmachining and injection moulding. Low cost and fast production, that’s why vacuum casting products with better market competitiveness.
Investment casting or vacuum casting has several advantages to the prototype producing industries. Here are some of them:
Quality
this process lets you choose the correct material required to design the desired part according to its hardness. The finished product can be either painted in the desired color or can be kept simple that will give it crystal appearance.
High precision
the mold used to produce the prototype produce the parts similar to the original model. Even the complex parts with typical geometries can be easily produced using vacuum casting service. Moreover, it produces the final result with high precision.
Prices And Deadlines
the process involves a cost-effective production where in loss investment more prototype can be produced. Parts can generate around 30 – 50 prototype parts in less than 15 days that is more beneficial during the urgent needs.
Vacuum Casting Technical Specifications
| Standard lead time | Up to 10 copies within 15 working days |
| Standard accuracy | ±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 |
Advantages Of Vacuum Casting Services For Product Developers
- Low cost, the prototyping industry often uses silicone vacuum casting to replicate small batches.
- The silicone mold can reproduce 10-20 pieces of the same prototype product within the life of the mold.
- Superior and smooth surface finishing.
- Fast speed, general production time: 1-4 hours/piece.
- Standard reproduction accuracy of the vacuum casting prototype: ±0.20mm/100mm.
- According to customer requirements, products with beautiful appearance can be made in different colors.
- It is suitable for prototype with complex product structure, uniform wall thickness and certain functional requirements.
- Good reproducibility of product processing.
- Ability to produce large parts.
what industries commonly use vacuum casting
Vacuum pouring is widely used in various industries due to its versatility, high precision, and cost-effectiveness for small series production. Some of the industries that commonly use vacuum casting include:
- Automotive: vacuum pouring is utilized for creating car parts, interior components, and small series parts for specialty vehicles, benefiting from its superior accuracy and repeatability.
- Aerospace: The aerospace industry employs vacuum casting to produce lightweight, durable components and prototypes, owing to the process’s precision and high-quality finish, which are critical for meeting stringent standards.
- Consumer Electronics: Vacuum pouring is extensively used in the consumer electronics industry for producing housing for electronic devices, such as keyboards, chargers, and power banks, due to the precision and fine detailing it offers.
- Medical: The medical device industry relies heavily on vacuum casting for creating prototypes and producing biocompatible materials, making it a significant advantage in this field. The process is used to manufacture implants, prosthetics, and other medical components.
- Consumer Goods: Vacuum pouring is also employed in the manufacturing of complex consumer goods such as toys, sporting equipment, food packaging components, and other intricate parts needed in food production operations.
These industries benefit from vacuum casting due to its ability to produce high-quality, detailed parts without the need for expensive tooling and machinery, making it suitable for applications such as quality validation, pre-launch product testing, and concept models.