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PU casting

A common step in the development project is to carry out functional testing of the final design in a material which is similar in properties to the final thermo plastic. By producing molds in soft or hard materials, we can make parts in polyurethane (PU) with these very characteristics. This method can also be used for serial production in which the number of parts is relatively low in relation to the size of the part.

We work with two different PU casting methods.

Vacuum casting

Vacuum casting is ideal for producing small batches of plastic parts. The production time for the tool is often very rapid. The tools are normally casted in silicone from a 3D printed master pattern. Thanks to the parts being casted under a vacuum, they are non-porous and therefore very strong. The method requires very little post processing and the parts have properties similar to those of common thermoplastic materials, e.g. hard, soft, rigid, flexible, heat-resistant or transparent. Parts can be produced in any colour and even reinforced with fibres.

Technical data

RIM - Reaction Injection Moulding

An alternative similar to vacuum casting is reaction injection moulding, sometimes referred to as RIM. This method is more cost-effective when the number of parts is greater or the size of the parts is larger. It is often used as a production method for lower volume parts. When using this casting methods, the tools are casted in silicone. The method is very fast and can keep initial investment costs down. The range of materials which can be used is limited, as is the range of colours the parts can be produced in, however the parts can be coated afterwards in any colour you wish.

Technical data