Why consider Vacuum casting or casting urethane

Vacuum casting, particularly with polyurethane resins, is a strong contender for rapid prototyping and low-volume production due to its cost-effectiveness, speed, and ability to produce high-quality parts with fine details. It‘s a good choice when you need multiple units with good surface finish and material consistency, offering an alternative to more expensive and time-consuming processes like injection molding.

The vacuum casting manufacturing process can be split into 3 sections: the master model, the silicone mould, and finally the cast part. The master model is basically a one-off model that is produced and is exactly the same as the final cast part. The master model is usually 3D printed in SLA as SLA is great for applying finishes. Alternatively, it is CNC machined, as tight tolerances can be held from a CNC’d master model.

Here's why vacuum casting is often a good choice:

Cost-Effective for Small Batches: Vacuum casting is more affordable than traditional methods for producing small quantities of parts. 

Rapid Prototyping: The process is fast, with molds often ready within days, allowing for quick iterations and testing. 

High-Quality Surface Finish: Vacuum casting can produce parts with excellent surface finishes, making them suitable for both functional and aesthetic purposes.