01
Cost-Effective Production
Vacuum casting reduces the need for expensive metal tooling, making it economical for prototypes, pilot production and small batches of plastic components.
Lower tooling cost
Low-Volume Manufacturing and Prototyping
High-Quality Vacuum Casting Solutions
Rheologist Gaze and Solutions delivers accurate prototypes and low-volume plastic components using 3D printed master patterns, silicone molds and advanced vacuum casting techniques.
Production-Like Parts
High-quality prototypes without expensive production tooling
From Master to Parts
Accurate reproduction for low-volume production
Vacuum Casting Expertise
Cost-effective production of accurate plastic prototypes
At Rheologist Gaze and Solutions, we use advanced 3D printing technology to develop high-quality master patterns for silicone mold creation and vacuum casting.
This process is ideal for manufacturing small quantities of detailed plastic components that closely resemble injection molded parts in appearance, texture, flexibility and performance.
Low tooling investment
Silicone tooling offers a practical alternative to
expensive metal injection molds for small quantities.
High-quality surface reproduction
Fine details, textures, features and surface finishes
from the master model can be faithfully reproduced.
Wide range of material properties
Resins are available for rigid, flexible, clear,
heat-resistant and impact-resistant applications.
Key Advantages
Why choose vacuum casting for prototypes and low-volume parts?
Vacuum casting provides an effective balance of quality, cost, material variety and production speed for development and limited-volume manufacturing applications.
02
Form, Fit and Function Testing
Production-like components can be used to verify geometry, assembly, ergonomics, fitment and functional performance during product development.
Product validation03
Diverse Material Options
Resins can be selected according to hardness, flexibility, impact strength, thermal performance, appearance and application requirements.
Application-based materials04
Versatile Finishes
Components can be produced with opaque, translucent, transparent, colored, textured, glossy or matte finishes depending on project requirements.
Multiple appearances05
Fine Detail Reproduction
Silicone molds capture intricate features, lettering, textures, undercuts and detailed geometry from the master pattern.
High-detail components06
Wax Master Production
Vacuum casting can be used to create high-quality wax masters for investment casting of detailed metal parts.
Investment casting supportOur Process
A controlled workflow from CAD design to finished components
Each vacuum casting project is planned according to the required quantity, geometry, material properties, finish, color and intended product application.
1
CAD model and product requirement evaluation
2
High-quality master pattern development
3
Silicone mold preparation and resin selection
4
Vacuum casting, curing and finishing
Vacuum Casting Workflow
01
Design Review
We examine the CAD model, component geometry, expected quantity, finish and functional requirements.
02
Master Pattern Creation
A highly accurate master model is produced using suitable 3D printing and finishing techniques.
03
Silicone Mold Development
Liquid silicone is cast around the master pattern to create a detailed flexible mold.
04
Resin Mixing and Casting
The selected resin is mixed, degassed and poured into the silicone mold under vacuum conditions.
05
Curing and Finishing
Parts are cured, removed from the mold, trimmed, finished and inspected before delivery.
Material and Finish Options
Vacuum casting resins for different product requirements
Materials can be selected to simulate many production plastics and elastomers while meeting appearance, strength and functional requirements.
Rigid Engineering Resin
Suitable for housings, covers, brackets and structural parts.
Flexible Resin
Used for soft-touch products, seals, grips and flexible parts.
Transparent Resin
Suitable for lenses, light guides, covers and visual models.
Heat-Resistant Resin
Used for components exposed to elevated service temperatures.
Opaque Parts
Available in customized colors with matte or glossy finishes.
Translucent Parts
Suitable for diffusers, lighting components and visual effects.
Rubber-Like Resin
Provides controlled softness and different Shore hardness levels.
Wax Masters
Detailed patterns for investment casting and metal part production.
Applications
Prototype and low-volume production applications
Vacuum casting is suitable for product development, customer evaluation, market trials and limited production across many industries.
Form, Fit and Function Testing
Verify dimensions, assembly, usability and product performance before production tooling.
Design Verification
Evaluate product geometry, material selection, appearance and functional design decisions.
Marketing Samples
Produce high-quality display parts for exhibitions, presentations, photography and customer demonstrations.
Field User Testing
Provide realistic components for customer feedback, product trials and usability evaluation.
Pilot Production
Manufacture small batches before investing in permanent production molds.
Customized Components
Produce specialized parts for medical, automotive, consumer and industrial applications.
Process Comparison
Selecting the right process for your production volume
Vacuum casting is especially effective when high-quality parts are required in quantities that do not justify metal injection molding tools.
| Evaluation Factor | Vacuum Casting | Direct 3D Printing | Injection Molding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tooling Cost | Low | No tooling | High |
| Suitable Quantity | Low-volume batches | One-off or very small quantity | High-volume production |
| Surface Quality | High | Process dependent | High |
| Material Simulation | Wide production-like options | Limited by printing technology | Production material |
| Design Change Flexibility | High | Very high | Low after tooling |
| Transparent or Flexible Parts | Multiple options | Technology dependent | Material dependent |
Need high-quality prototypes or low-volume plastic parts?
Share your 3D model, required quantity, preferred material, surface finish, color and application with the Rheologist Gaze and Solutions engineering team.