
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 CNC machining 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:
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 |