Imaginarium/Technologies/Formative Sheet 06 of 08

Vacuum Casting

weekend production turnaround

Replicate parts from a 3D-printed master using a two-part silicone mould inside a vacuum chamber. The fastest, most cost-effective route from a single prototype to 15 to 30 production-quality copies, in a library of injection-mould-like materials.

Vacuum chamber PU pour Silicone mould, cast from a printed master Identical copies ×15–30 COPIES. weekend turnaround.
Max part size1500 × 1000 × 1000 mm
Typical volumes15 to 200 parts
ToleranceISO 2768 (C) standardsDownload tolerance chart (PDF)
Lead time5 to 10 days
01 Why use it the good bits
  • Injection-mould quality without the tool cost: no steel tooling required.
  • Weekend turnaround: master to 20 finished parts in 5 to 10 days.
  • Full cosmetic quality: matte, semi-gloss, gloss, transparent, textured.
  • Overmoulding supported: brass inserts, threaded bosses, metal pins.
  • In-resin pigmentation and Pantone-match colour, per part.
  • The bridge between prototype and IM, for market and clinical trials.
02 Ideal volumes how many?
  • 15–25 parts per silicone mould; up to 25 for simple geometries.
  • Rubber-like, FR and GF materials yield around 15 parts per mould.
  • Wax masters yield up to 30 parts per mould (investment casting).
  • Multiple moulds cover 50 to 100+ unit series: faster than IM under 500 parts.

03 Materials

Pick your PU

three answers, one resin.

Twelve main casting systems, designated VC-01 to VC-12, from water-clear PC-like to Shore 20A rubber. Answer the three questions and we shortlist the resins that fit, then open a match for its typical properties and download the manufacturer datasheet for your design review.

04 Post-processing & finishing high quality, functional end-use parts.
In-resin pigment Spray paint Pantone match Matte / satin / gloss Texture replication Clear coat Brass inserts Metal over-mould Multi-part bonding Laser mark
Take a break while the mould sets.

Proof not promises.

It hasn’t been done

which doesn’t mean it can’t be.

Let’s build something