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Definition
What is vacuum casting?
Vacuum casting (also called urethane casting or polyurethane casting) is a low-volume manufacturing process that replicates a master pattern with a silicone mold, then pours polyurethane resin under vacuum to produce production-like plastic or elastomer parts — typically for 10–200 pieces in about 7–15 business days, without hard injection tooling.
Ideal for cosmetic models, fit checks, and pre-series runs before steel tooling. Request a quote
- Also known as Urethane / polyurethane casting
- Best for Functional prototypes & bridge parts
- Typical window 10–200 pcs · 7–15 business days
How vacuum casting works
Master pattern → silicone mold → urethane cast under vacuum — production-like plastics in about 10–200 pieces without hard injection tooling.
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Master Pattern Creation
CNC-machined or SLA master patterns finished to the surface you need before silicone tooling.
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Silicone Mold Production
RTV silicone molds copy the master to create a soft tool for short-run urethane casting.
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Vacuum Urethane Casting
Polyurethane resin is cast under vacuum for dense, void-free parts that mimic production plastics.
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Finishing & QC
Demold, trim gate marks, apply paint or texture, and check critical dimensions before shipment.
Vacuum casting materials
Polyurethane resins that mimic ABS, PC, clear optics, and elastomers — for housings, functional trials, soft-touch parts, and transparent covers.
Selection guide
Vacuum casting vs injection molding vs 3D printing
Choose vacuum casting when you need production-like plastics in small batches before hard tooling. Move to injection molding once volume and true resin grade justify the tool. Use 3D printing for one-off geometry checks.
| Criteria | Vacuum casting | Injection molding | 3D printing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best volume | 10–200 parts | 1,000+ parts | 1–20 parts |
| Tooling cost | Low (silicone mold) | High (aluminum / steel) | None |
| Lead time to first parts | About 7–15 days | About 4–12 weeks | About 1–5 days |
| Material fidelity | PU resins that mimic ABS, PC, PP, rubber | Actual production thermoplastics | Print resins / powders |
| Surface / cosmetics | Near injection-mold look; paint & texture ready | Production finish at volume | Layer lines; more post-processing |
| Design changes | Low cost to remake silicone tool | Expensive tool changes | Instant — no tooling |
Need the exact production thermoplastic for certification tests? Ask about prototype injection tooling. For a CNC master pattern under one roof, see our CNC machining service.
Surface finishing for cast parts
Match cosmetic requirements for trade shows, EVT builds, and end-use low-volume products with gloss, matte, paint, soft-touch, and marking.
Matte Texture
Bead Blasted
Custom Painting
Any RAL/Pantone
Marking
Laser & Pad Printing
Soft Touch
Rubberized Coating
Metallic Finish
Chrome & Satin
Textured Grain
Mold Texture
UV Clear
Optical Grade
PROCESS SPECS
Vacuum casting capabilities & specs
| Parameter | JS Model capability |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Urethane casting / polyurethane casting / silicone mold casting |
| Typical volume | 10–200 parts per project (bridge / pre-series) |
| Lead time | About 7–15 business days after CAD approval (complexity dependent) |
| Tooling | RTV silicone molds from CNC or SLA master patterns |
| Mold life | About 15–25 shots per silicone mold (geometry dependent) |
| Typical tolerance | ±0.15–0.3 mm on critical features; confirm CTQs at RFQ |
| Materials | PU resins mimicking ABS, PC, PP, clear optics, elastomers, FR grades |
| Finishes | Gloss, matte, texture, paint, soft-touch, pad/laser marking |
| Markets | Europe, United States, Canada, Israel (express courier) |
| Quality system | ISO 9001:2015 process control |
Values are typical capability ranges. Final tolerance, materials, and lead time are confirmed per RFQ.
Common questions
Vacuum casting FAQ
Vacuum casting — also called urethane casting — replicates a master pattern with a silicone mold and pours polyurethane resin under vacuum. It produces production-like plastic or elastomer parts in small batches, typically 10–200 pieces, without hard injection tooling.
Choose vacuum casting for prototypes, market tests, and bridge / pre-series runs where tooling cost and design flexibility matter more than per-part cost at high volume. Move to injection molding when you need true production thermoplastics and volumes that amortize metal tooling.
Many projects ship in about 7–15 business days after CAD approval, covering master pattern, silicone mold, casting, and finishing. Rush options depend on geometry, mold count, and finishing.
Typical dimensional ranges are about ±0.15–0.3 mm on critical features, depending on size, wall section, and resin. Call out CTQs on the drawing so we can confirm capability at RFQ.
A silicone mold typically yields about 15–25 parts before wear affects detail. Larger lots use multiple molds in parallel to hold schedule and quality.
Yes. We regularly ship vacuum cast / urethane cast parts via express courier to EU, US, CA, and IL. Freight and Incoterms are confirmed with your quote.
Send STEP + PDF, quantity, target resin (ABS-like, PC-like, clear, elastomer), color/finish, CTQ tolerances, inserts/overmolds if any, ship-to country, and inspection needs. A complete RFQ shortens quote turnaround.
Yes. We CNC machine or SLA print master patterns, then cast silicone tools and urethane parts under one team — reducing handoffs versus multi-vendor workflows.