Vacuum Casting
Vacuum casting is a technique used for prototype production, utilizing silicone molds to rapidly fabricate urethane parts for small-scale manufacturing of functional components.
This process bridges the transition from prototype to full-scale production, ensuring global delivery within ten days or fewer.
Vacuum Casting and Urethane Casting by Fuming
Vacuum casting, also referred to as urethane casting or polyurethane vacuum casting, offers an effective method for producing rigid or flexible components ideal for high-fidelity prototyping, functional testing, concept validation, and display purposes. Depending on requirements, urethane cast parts can be produced in quantities ranging from a few to several hundred units. The properties and overall quality of vacuum cast parts are comparable to those produced through injection molding.
Fuming is fully prepared to manage your vacuum casting and silicone molding requirements. Leveraging extensive experience in this field, we manufacture your plastic components to the highest standards, ensuring both cost efficiency and rapid turnaround times.
Seeking reliable vacuum casting services? Contact Fuming today to receive a complimentary quote for your vacuum casting needs within 24 hours.
Vacuum Casting Quick Quote
Simply upload your 3D drawing file to receive a rapid quotation. There is no need to request multiple quotes for varying quantities of the same component. We provide you with detailed pricing options at different levels, allowing you to compare and select the most suitable order based on your budget.
Fuming is a frontrunner in polyurethane casting services, delivering cost-effective international solutions tailored to meet your timeline and financial requirements.
Advantages of Our Vacuum Casting Services
- Our vacuum casting prototyping process offers low manufacturing costs and short production lead times.
- It is highly cost-effective for low-volume production. Once the master pattern and silicone mold are created, additional parts can be easily duplicated from the original pattern.
- The de-moulding process is flexible. After the mold has fully dried and cured, it remains soft and pliable, making it easy to cut and release parts without damage.
- A wide variety of materials and colors are available to meet your specific requirements.
- Parts exhibit high quality with minimal defect rates. As long as the master pattern is flawless, the resulting vacuum cast parts will be accurate, with most potential issues avoided from the start.
Gallery of Vacuum Casting Parts
Since our founding, we have assisted industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and more in developing a wide range of elastomer vacuum cast components.
Vacuum Casting Materials
Urethane resins are polymers offering a broad spectrum of properties and applications. Fuming provides a diverse selection of urethane materials tailored to your needs, including Hei-Cast from Japan and Axson from France. Certain material grades exhibit characteristics similar to engineering production plastics such as ABS, PMMA, PC, PP, and PA. Cast parts can be produced in various forms, ranging from transparent and translucent to colored finishes, and from soft rubber-like textures to rigid plastics. Available materials include impact-resistant grades, high-temperature resistant options (up to 120°C), fire-resistant formulations (UL94-V0), glass-filled resins, and silicones with varying hardness levels.
Technical specifications
| Maximum build dimensions | Mold size is constrained by the vacuum chamber dimensions (up to 1,900 x 900 x 750 mm) and the maximum product volume, which is limited to 10 liters. |
| Standard accuracy | ±0.3% (with a lower limit on ±0.3 mm on dimensions smaller than 100 mm) |
| Minimum wall thickness | At least 0.75 mm to ensure the mold is filled properly; for best results, wall thickness of at least 1.5 mm is recommended |
| Surface structure | High-quality surface finish comparable to injection molding |
Materials
When you partner with Fuming for your vacuum casting projects, you can select from a wide range of materials.
Rubber-like Polyurethanes
DESCRIPTION
Our rubber-like polyurethanes, available with a range of distinct material properties, can be utilized with silicone molds to produce high-quality prototypes or limited series of end-use components.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
- Superior surface finish and fine detail, comparable to TPE, TPU, and silicone rubber
- Ideal for applications requiring effective shock absorption
- Economical solution for producing prototypes or small batches of functional parts
- Maximum part dimensions: 1,900 x 900 x 750 mm (with a maximum part volume of 10 liters)
DESCRIPTION
Our ABS-like polyurethanes offer a variety of material properties and can be used with silicone molds to create high-quality prototypes or small batches of end-use components.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
- Superior surface quality and detail, offering the look and feel of injection-molded parts
- Flame-retardant, food-safe, and UV-stable material options are available
- Cost-effective method for producing prototypes or limited runs of functional parts
- Maximum part dimensions: 1,900 x 900 x 750 mm (with a maximum part volume of 10 liters)
DESCRIPTION
Our PE/PP-like polyurethanes offer a variety of material properties and can be utilized with silicone molds to produce high-quality prototypes or small series of end-use components.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
- High-quality surface finish and detail, delivering the look and feel of injection-molded parts
- Durable yet lightweight, available in a wide selection of finishes
- Economical solution for producing prototypes or limited runs of functional parts
- Maximum part dimensions: 1,900 x 900 x 750 mm (with a maximum part volume of 10 liters)
The Applications Of Vacuum Casting
Vacuum casting is an effective method for producing low-volume runs of functional prototypes and plastic parts, helping you achieve the right balance between high-quality end-use components and production lead times.
- Low Volume Manufacturing / Short Production Runs
Urethane casting is ideal for producing high-quality plastic prototypes. When production volumes do not justify the investment in injection molding, or when short-run parts are needed weeks before production tooling is ready, this process offers an effective solution. Our advanced prototyping and manufacturing services enable you to create custom, complex parts in low volumes more rapidly than traditional tooling and molding methods.
- Engineering Verification / Functional Testing
The vacuum casting process, along with its relatively low-cost tooling, makes it simple and economical to carry out engineering verification and implement design changes. These cast parts can also be used for functional testing prior to full-scale production, allowing for issue reporting and even supporting certification approvals.
- Aesthetic Models / Color and Texture Studies
Urethane cast parts can be produced as complete aesthetic models, incorporating various colors, textures, and surface finishes based on the same design concept. If you are uncertain about the most suitable color for a final product, a silicone mold can be created to produce 10 to 15 castings. Each part can then be finished with your chosen colors and textures, facilitating internal discussions during design team meetings or even management reviews.
- Marketing Ready / Display Models
With end-user functionality and a high-quality surface finish, urethane cast parts are well-suited for consumer testing and user evaluation. The flexibility of the urethane casting process allows for quick modifications, whether for further testing or market launch preparation. At trade shows or exhibitions, you can display multiple modeled pieces to interested clients. Urethane molded parts are also essential for photography used in company brochures or featured on official websites to attract potential customers.
Our Vacuum Casting Services for Diverse Industrial Applications
Leveraging rapid production, cost efficiency, and durable component quality, our vacuum casting service remains the preferred choice for producing custom parts across the automotive, medical, consumer goods, and other sectors.