Manufacturing service
Vacuum Casting Services
Small-batch polyurethane parts and appearance models made from silicone molds before production tooling.
- Master pattern review
- Silicone mold preparation
- Polyurethane casting
- Painting, color, and assembly review
Service overview
Bridge appearance and assembly testing before hard tooling.
Vacuum casting uses a master pattern to create silicone molds for small batches of polyurethane parts. It is useful when teams need more prototype copies than direct printing alone may justify, while still avoiding production injection tooling.
The route can support rigid, flexible, colored, painted, or selected clear appearance parts. Results are reviewed against the chosen master, material simulation, mold life, cosmetic zones, and assembly needs.
Representative vacuum-cast housing for appearance and assembly evaluation.
Key capabilities
Process planning connected to the drawing and end use.
The manufacturing route is reviewed around geometry, material behavior, critical features, appearance, inspection, and downstream assembly.
Silicone mold preparation
Polyurethane casting
Painting, color, and assembly review
Typical parts
Parts commonly reviewed for vacuum casting.
Prototype housings
Appearance covers
Transparent windows
Soft-touch models
Ergonomic enclosures
Display models
Assembly-test components
Pre-production sample sets
Industries
Applications supported across engineering teams.
Materials
Material options linked to technical guidance.
Surface Finishes
Surface Finishes reviewed for material and application fit.
Tolerances and design guidance
Define what is functionally critical.
Vacuum-cast accuracy is influenced by the master pattern, silicone mold deformation, resin shrinkage, wall thickness, casting conditions, and post finishing. It should be treated as a prototype and small-batch route rather than assumed equivalent to injection molding.
DG 01
Start with a stable, accurate master pattern and controlled revision.
DG 02
Identify critical assembly interfaces and cosmetic surfaces.
DG 03
Allow practical parting, venting, and gate locations for silicone tooling.
DG 04
Confirm color, gloss, transparency, hardness, and paint requirements with reference samples where possible.
Quality assurance
Inspection planning starts with the drawing.
Inspection points are selected from the controlled drawing, functional risk, process behavior, appearance criteria, and documentation requested for the project.
Master pattern and revision check
Silicone mold condition and casting review
Dimensional, bubble, and appearance inspection
Color, paint, fit, and packaging review
CMM inspection supportOptical measurement supportCalipers and micrometersThread and pin gaugesInspection documentation support
Manufacturing workflow
A controlled route from RFQ to shipment.
The exact route changes with process and project risk, but each stage keeps the approved drawings and requirements in view.
- 01
Master and requirement review
Review CAD, master route, quantity, material simulation, color, and finish.
- 02
Silicone mold preparation
Prepare the master, form the mold, and define casting and venting details.
- 03
Casting and finishing
Cast polyurethane parts, cure, trim, paint, polish, or assemble as specified.
- 04
Inspection and delivery
Review dimensions, appearance, fit requirements, and packaging.
Related case study
A structured project type, not an invented customer story.
Project-type example
Transparent Prototype Housing
Project-type example awaiting verified material and finish records
Review project structureFAQ
Vacuum Casting questions from engineering and sourcing teams.
What should I provide for a vacuum casting quotation?
Send a 3D CAD file when available, a 2D drawing for critical dimensions and tolerances, material, quantity, finish, inspection, and delivery requirements. An engineer reviews the package before quotation.
When is vacuum casting useful?
It is useful for small batches of appearance or functional prototypes when several similar parts are needed before production tooling, especially for housings, covers, clear parts, and soft-touch models.
Is vacuum casting the same as injection molding?
No. Vacuum casting uses silicone molds and polyurethane systems for prototype or small-batch work. Injection molding uses production tooling and thermoplastic resin, with different design and process behavior.
How is lead time determined?
Lead time depends on geometry, material availability, quantity, tooling or setup requirements, surface finishing, inspection, and delivery needs. Timing is reviewed with the quotation rather than presented as a fixed promise.
Related services
Continue into connected manufacturing routes.
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3D Printing
Additive manufacturing for functional prototypes, fit checks, appearance models, and design validation.
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View service Molding and ToolingOvermolding
Rigid and soft material combinations for grip, sealing, insulation, impact protection, and user comfort.
View service Prototyping and EngineeringReverse Engineering
Physical sample review, dimensional capture, CAD reconstruction, and manufacturing drawing preparation.
View serviceStart your RFQ
Upload your drawings and receive an engineer-reviewed quotation.
Share the process, material, quantity, finish, tolerance, and delivery requirements. contact@kewei-kw.com / +86-13929495765