Vacuum casting is the technique used to create multiple injection moulded quality parts from a silicone tool. This process is ideal for prototyping and end-use products.
 
Vacuum castings can be manufactured in an array of pantone colours, surface finishes, materials and can also be tapped, drilled, insert moulded and over-moulded.
 
With 15 years’ experience using and developing this technology, our in-house experts at PDR are available to advise you on any aspect of prototyping and batch manufacturing to ensure that the highest quality parts are supplied.
 
Silicone tools typically produce around 25 castings depending upon the geometry and complexity of the part.  Materials range from elastomerics through to glass-filled, high impact polyurethanes and have an average shrinkage value of +/- 0.3mm.
 
The high accuracy master pattern, created in PDRs’ 3D printing facilities, is encapsulated in silicone to create the tool. Once cured, the mould is then cut to remove the master pattern before a 2-part polyurethane resin is used to fill the tool's cavity under vacuum to produce the final casting.