Vacuum casting refers to using the original model to make a silicone mold in a vacuum state, and pouring it with PU material in a vacuum state, so as to clone the same copy as the original model. Therefore, vacuum casting is also called silicone mold or compound mold.
The good elasticity and replication performance of silicone molds is widely used in rapid mold manufacturing. It is a relatively popular rapid mold manufacturing process in the market. Due to the high speed and low cost of this process, it solves the cycle and cost of new product development for enterprises. Product manufacturers generally use vacuum silicone composite molds to produce small batches of prototype models according to customer needs to allow customers to test the shortcomings, defects, and even drawbacks of the product in terms of structure and function.
The principle of silicone compound mold: first use 3D printing or CNC to process the prototype of the product, then use the liquid silicone material of the mold to make a silicone mold, and use PU, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, transparent PU, POM, rubber-like, PA-like, PE-like, ABS and other materials are poured to reproduce the same replica as the original. If there is a color requirement, coloring materials can be added to the pouring material, and different colors of parts can be realized by dyeing or painting in the later stage of the product.
Silicone mold 1
Industry application
The silicone molding process is widely used in aerospace, automobiles, home appliances, toys and medical equipment and other fields, suitable for the new product development stage, trial production of small batches (20-30 pieces) samples, specifically for the research and development and design of auto parts In the process, small batches of plastic parts are produced for trial production such as performance testing and road testing. Common plastic parts in automobiles such as air-conditioning shells, bumpers, air ducts, rubber-coated dampers, intake manifolds, center consoles, and instrument panels can be quickly manufactured in small batches using the silicone compound molding process during the trial production process.
Silicone mold 2
Notable features
1. Rapid performance: Silicone molds can be made within 24 hours if there is a prototype, and then the product can be poured and copied.
2. Simulation performance: Silicone molds can produce silicone molds with complex structures and fine patterns, which can clearly outline the fine lines on the surface of the product and reproduce the fine features on the prototype.
3. Mold release performance: Due to the good flexibility and elasticity of silicone molds, for parts with complex structures and deep grooves, the parts can be taken out directly after pouring, without adding additional draft angles, so as possible Simplify the mold design.
4. Replication performance: room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber has excellent simulation and extremely low shrinkage (about 3 per thousand), and basically does not lose the dimensional accuracy of the workpiece. It is an excellent mold material. Using a silicone mold You can quickly make 20-30 pieces of the same product.
5. Breadth of choice: Silicone mold composite mold materials can be selected widely, which can be similar to ABS, polyurethane resin, PP, nylon, rubber-like, PA-like, PE-like, PMMA/PC transparent parts, soft rubber parts ( 40-90shord D), high-temperature resistant parts, fireproof and other materials.
The above is an introduction to the advantages of the silicone compound molding process in the industry.
