Make a batch of parts once within 7 days
X Rapid Technologies, an expert silicone prototyping company, offers a vacuum casting service that is high in efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.
X Rapid Technologies is the best silicone molding company that develops high-quality silicone prototyping parts out of vacuum casting to provide accurate part replicas and consistent mechanical properties.
Nowadays, silicone molding company are offering high-quality silicone prototyping parts out of vacuum casting to provide accurate replicas of different models. Silicone prototyping is the silicone mold best from the product prototype using vacuum casting to produce the same replica. Vacuum casting uses similar materials such as ABS, PU, transparent PU to make the same parts in the vacuum environment. Silicone prototyping parts using vacuum casting can produce the same strength and hardness as mass production products and with the same colors as well. X Rapid Technologies is the top silicone molding company that offers various high-quality silicone prototyping parts with vacuum casting.
It is a casting process that uses a vacuum to extract liquid materials and turn them into mold. Usually, if the air entrapment is having a problem with the mold, then this method is used. Also, if there are any intricate details and undercuts on the mold, you can use this method to fix it. Silicone molding company use rapid prototyping where the plastic sheets are preheated. This is why it's often called thermoforming. The preheated materials get dropped in an automated vacuum casting machine to make them soft and pliable.
Silicon molding company follow the following steps to make silicone prototyping parts or rubber parts:
Step 1) Making master designs:
First, you need to create a master model of your CAD designs. The master will be a 3D model made by CNC machining or with 3D Printing. After that, the next move is to make a silicone mold of the model.
Step 2) Make the mold:
In this step, Casting molds are made from liquid silicone. Here, casting boxes are half-filled with silicone, and then the box gets heated up until the silicone is completely cured. Leave the cure inside an oven for 16 hours. Take it out and let it dry. After that, cut the mod in half and remove the master.
Step 3) Make the parts:
Lastly, pour the casting resins into the empty cavity and make an accurate replica of the master model. You can create more than 20 replicas with ease.
Silicon prototyping parts are much better in quality compared to injection-molded components. That's why vacuum casted models are perfect for testing and marketing purposes or to decide upon the final product.
The best silicone molding company helps to
create more innovative designs with fine details.
Silicone molding company produces and sells high-quality silicone prototyping parts to various industries. Such as
1)Consumer product manufacturers use vacuum casting to produce pens, sunglasses, and other sanitary products. Some cosmetic packages, hairbrushes, and combs are also made using this process.
2)Food and beverage industries also use this process to make food packages, bottles, food containers, cans, mugs, cutleries, and glasses.
3)Electronic industry uses silicone prototyping parts to make different electronic devices and their outer parts.
Which silicone molding company should you choose?
X Rapid Technologies has the best silicone prototyping technicians who carefully control the full process, from mixing, de-bubbling, stirring, preheating, injection to the solidification of the PU resin and rubber. That's why we are the best silicone molding company that guarantees minimal shrinkage and fine details.
Based on the silicone mold made from a product prototype (master), vacuum casting or urethane casting produces the same parts in the vacuum environment using polyurethane (PU) materials with similar properties to ABS, PC, PMMA, soft rubber, and more. The parts possess the same strength and hardness as mass production products, even with the colors required. With its replicability, vacuum casting is not only for producing prototypes but also low volume production of plastic and soft rubber products.
Our silicone prototyping technicians carefully control all operational parameters: from mixing, de-bubbling, stirring, preheating, and injection, to the solidification of the PU material and rubber, thus guaranteeing minimal shrinkage and fine details. At X Rapid Technologies, silicone prototyping parts made by vacuum casting show accurate part replication and consistent mechanical properties. They can be deliverable within a short lead time.
· Low cost and relatively short product production cycle. Less waste of material. The processing cost is also much lower than CNC machining and 3D printing.
· Suitable for short-run production. After making a master, it can be copied via silicone mold very rapidly, while CNC machining can only manufacture parts one at a time.
· Easy molding process. Cured soft silicone molds are transparent or translucent, have good tensile strength, and are easy to cut and separate.
· Small chance of processing failure. Reproduction is unlikely to go wrong if the master is in order.
· Good repeatability. A mold made of silicone has good fluidity before curing, and after vacuum de-bubbling, the part retains its detailed features.
· There is a possibility of deformation due to shrinkage. Silicone prototyping parts shrink after cooling following high-temperature heating, resulting in deformation.
· Not resistant to high temperatures, the silicone prototyping parts can generally only withstand a high temperature of about 60 degrees centigrade.
· The strength and hardness of the silicone prototyping parts are lower than that of CNC machined ones.
1. Make the master part via CNC machining or SLA 3D printing.
2. Enclose the master part with wooden boards, preparing for making the silicone mold.
3. Pour the liquid silicone, which has been vacuumed with a vacuum machine, to cover the master.
4. Bake it in the oven to accelerate the curing of the silicone mold.
5. Take the master part out of the silicone mold.
6. Vacuum and pour the raw material to make a copy of the master part.
7. Demold and take out the copied part.
8. Finishing as required.
Consider the materials and quantities for rapid prototyping manufacturing. Vacuum casting can only make plastic and soft rubber parts. Vacuum casting is not the most economical option when the quantity is very low, such as 1 piece. Because we need to make a master via CNC machining or 3D printing to make the silicone mold. And one silicone mold lasts 15-20 shots. The more you produce, the more costs of silicone mold you can offset.
15 - 20 parts can be produced by one silicone mold, which shortens the lead time.
Most silicone prototyping parts can be formed integrally in one piece with good strength.
Besides manufacturing different plastic parts, vacuum casting can also make soft rubber silicone prototyping parts.
Different PU series, similar to ABS, PC, PMMA, PP, POM, soft rubber, etc
SLA printing service or stereolithography printing is a part of the active manufacturing technologies popularly known as vat photopolymerization or Resin 3D Printing. The printing machines are built around a similar principle that involves using a source of light like a projector or laser to cure and mold the liquid resin to give the shape of hardened plastic. The only difference between SLA printing technology and the others depends entirely on how the core components are arranged, like the build platform, the source of light, and the resin stored tank.
SLA printing service or stereolithography printing is a part of the active manufacturing technologies popularly known as vat photopolymerization or Resin 3D Printing. The printing machines are built around a similar principle that involves using a source of light like a projector or laser to cure and mold the liquid resin to give the shape of hardened plastic. The only difference between SLA printing technology and the others depends entirely on how the core components are arranged, like the build platform, the source of light, and the resin stored tank.
No matter which prototyping process you are willing to use for making the prototypes of your product, we are here at your service to provide you with the best. Whether CNC machining, 3D printing, vacuum casting, or any other process is suitable for your product, our highly experienced and skilled technicians will provide you with an accurate prototype of the product that can reflect the end-use product perfectly. We have been prototyping different products for years and know which technology on which material will be best for your product so that the product can beat its competitors in the market.
The technology is getting advanced over the days, and the methodologies are changing rapidly. That\\'s why an efficient CNC machining part supplier should have the will to improve the work process by using advanced equipment and technology. It is very important for every CNC machined part supplier to adopt the changes happening in this technical era. Every single invention affects every sector, especially the manufacturing sector. A reliable CNC machined part supplier would know how to adopt to the changes and cope up with new technologies. For this purpose, a CNC machining part supplier should have a skilled team that is experienced in the field and know about several technologies and processes well.
Sheet Metal Fabrication is the process of forming parts from a metal sheet by punching, cutting, stamping, and bending. 3D CAD files are converted into machine code, which controls a machine to precisely cut and form the sheets into the final part.
Rapid 3D printing has always been a popular prototyping option. X Rapid Technologies offers complex and custom 3D Rapid prototype printing for ultimate efficiency.
CNC prototype service is a procedure in which a computer controls a machine tool based on numerical data input. CAD/CAM software is commonly used, which allows machine operators to create the required designs and then allows the computer to control the tool\\'s movements. In order to aid in achieving the desired results, the computer can control various machining tools such as lathes and drills.
Custom CNC Machining Service entails making parts for a specific purpose or to a customer\\'s specifications. It uses both manual and advanced machining equipment to create high-quality parts.
CNC Machines are operated and controlled by a digitalized computer that can automate and control an industrial machine. In big Industrial Plants, these computers are generally installed or fixed inside the machine only, but for some, it is externally fitted. So once you find CNC machines work, give a closer look at their structure and how the operations are regulated by the computer. CNC machines for metalwork are also globally used for cutting metal sheets which helps in saving raw materials and processing with accuracy.
For plastic prototypes by vacuum casting, the finishings can be de-burring, polishing (PMMA-like parts), painting, electroplating, laser engraving, silk screening, etc. All those surface treatments available for plastic parts can be done to vacuum-cast plastic prototypes.
There is no MOQ for X Rapid Technologies. As a prototype creator, we offer one-off prototypes and small-batch production. However, vacuum casting is more cost-effective when the quantity is about or more than 5 pieces. Don’t worry. We will help you make the choice based on your certain requirements.
Compared to CNC machining and 3D printing, vacuum casting usually takes longer. Because it involves the process of making the silicone mold. As a prototype creator offering custom rapid prototyping services, we will calculate the specific lead time for each project during the quotation period. In case you want to make it faster, be sure to let us know.
For silicone prototyping, please send us files in CAD, STP, STEP, IGS, or X_T format.
Sure. You can take a look at our previous vacuum casting cases on our Case Studies page. For more pictures of silicone prototyping parts, you are welcome to contact your 1-on-1 project manager.
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