Silicone casting is a simple and accurate casting process that will forgive many mistakes. The silicone rubber material comes in two components that mix by a volume ratio of 1:1. Propanol alcohol is used to clean the polymers before they cure. The casting material used to make parts also mixes on a volume basis of 1:1.
What are the Different Types of Silicone Casting Processes?
What are the Advantages of Silicone Casting?
- Accurate. Highly precise part creation with complex geometries available, even at higher batch sizes.
- Great for Prototypes. Relatively short lead times for silicone casting processes allow prototypes to be deployed and tested quickly in the product development lifecycle.
- High Quality and Flexibility. Resins can be manipulated and engineered to achieve a variety of material characteristics specific to the needs of the project.
What are the Limitations of Silicone Casting?
- Higher Cost. Silicone casting usually features a higher startup cost than urethane casting methods.
- Shrinkage. Some shrinkage, ~1%, can occur when using tin-cured silicone rubber.
Key Metrics
Standard Tolerance
.0127mm
Lead Time
15 Business Days
Maximum Size
24″×24″×24″
Minimum Feature Size
.127µm
Minimum Wall Thickness
500µm
Conclusion
Silicone casting is an established technology in the casting space that brings new-age materials to this traditional foundry process. Consider submitting an RFQ through manufacturing services such as ProdEX to get started today.