Vacuum casting
Vacuum and metal casting systems from Renishaw allow engineers and designers to produce high quality parts that closely replicate the performance attributes of injection moulded and high volume metal die cast parts, without the associated long lead times and process overheads.
Vacuum casting is a highly versatile technology capable of producing parts in a range of polyurethane (PU) resins and cast nylon, to replicate and replace engineering polymers for prototypes and low-volume production.
Typical applications include consumer products, automotive lenses & under-bonnet components, trim and interiors, white goods, housings and enclosures, scientific and healthcare products for a diverse range of industries and fields.
By using Renishaw vacuum casting technology, it is also possible to produce high quality wax masters used in the investment casting industry, in conjunction with the Renishaw Metal part casting machine. Non-ferrous castings with fine detail and thin wall sections and excellent surface quality can be produced, significantly reducing lead times and contributing to rapid iterations in prototype and model development.
Typical PU & Nylon vacuum castings moulds are formed in RTV silicone rubber using a master model, usually digitally produced via 3D printing, with moulds capable of producing 20 to 50 parts before retooling is required.
Wax masters for the investment metal part casting process enjoy a much longer mould life due to the nature of the material and high quality parts in non-ferrous metals can be produced in around 5 days depending upon complexity.
Vacuum casting machines
