What is it?
The Vacuum Casting, or molding through silicone equipment, is one of the most well known techniques and is used in the rapid construction of flexible mold that guarantees the production of a limited number of pieces (from 1 to 25) in a material. For some physics mechanics and aesthetic characteristic, is near to the definitive one. [unsure of intended meaning?] It starts from a master, usually made with stereolithography or FDM, that is suspended in an appropriate container. After the placement of vents and sprues, coating is done with degassed liquid silicone. At the end of the process, the mold is placed in a special oven for curing. The mold is then cut into two or more parts, according to irregular profiles, to obtain a perfect fit for the next stapling. This equipment allows you to create prototypes for vacuum casting. Products made from silicone molds have a quality comparable to the final product, making them particularly suitable for form and function to aesthetic, marketing and functional testing. The result is impressive. The maximum size of work is: 1900x900x750mm.
Materials
- Large range of different polyurethanes
- Simil gomma
- Simil PP
- Simil ABS
Advantages
- Small functional series
- Transparent pieces / colored mass
- Low-cost pieces
- Good mechanical properties and resistance to high temperatures
Disadvantages
- Pieces
- Limited productive capacity = 20 pieces
