Silicone & Urethane Casting
Silicone and urethane casting is an excellent way quickly manufacture high-quality plastic cast parts in small to medium quantities (~10-1000 parts) with shorter lead times and lower tooling costs than injection molding. In fact, it has some of the lowest unit costs of any manufacturing technology, including 3D printing, while rivaling injection molding for quality and versatility.
Cast plastic parts are durable and inexpensive. They consistently render fine surface details and offer high-quality finishes with the look and feel of consumer products. Because they are significantly less expensive than injection molding, silicone and urethane casting are also useful for quickly creating prototypes for molded parts.
Get a Quote in 24 Hours or Less
Request a quote with our Quick Quote tool or by giving us a call. A RapidMade engineer will review your design and send you a price in 24 hours or less. Once your order is placed, parts made with rapid casting have a typical lead time of 5-12 days. If you’re looking for a quality 3D Printing Company, RapidMade is here to assist you with any 3D printing project.
A High-Quality Alternative to 3D Printing and Injection Molding
Urethane and silicone casting are a versatile middle ground between 3D printing and injection molding that can offer the best of both worlds. Modern advances in materials have made silicone and urethane cast parts comparable in quality to injection molded parts. At the same time, these cast parts can be produced in small to medium quantities faster and at less cost than with injection molding.
When compared to 3D printing, silicone and urethane casting materials have a wider range of chemical, thermal and mechanical properties than 3D printed plastics.. Because they are not restricted by the size of a printing bed, cast parts also offer better value for medium to large parts. Lastly, cast parts have superior finish and fine detail when compared to 3D printed parts, which means they can accurately create the look and feel of consumer products without any additional finishing.
Common applications for rapid casting include:
Electronic housings
Gaskets
Panels
Food-safe products
Medical devices
Performance parts for transportation and aerospace
Outdoor products
Fixtures
Cosmetic parts
Displays
3D Printed Master Patterns
Whenever applicable, we use 3D printing to create the master patterns for silicone and urethane mold-making, so you can have tooling in weeks, not months. Because urethane casting is so good at rendering fine details, it can easily reproduce custom finishes, saving time and money. If you have a part that you need replicated, we can easily reverse engineer existing objects with 3D scanning as well.
Once created, each mold can be used to cast thousands of parts with the look, feel and durability of finished products. Because they are relatively quick and inexpensive to produce, silicone and urethane molds are also a cost-effective option for iterating prototypes for cast or molded parts.
Versatile Cast Urethane and Silicone
Urethane and silicone molds can cast a range of materials, including elastomers and rigid plastics, as well as silicone, plaster and even concrete. Cast plastic parts can range from 20A - 90D on a durometer and come in high-heat, flame-retardant, food-safe and medical-grade options.
As a result, cast parts can stand up to a variety of specialty applications in demanding environments including the aerospace, medical and food industries. We can even work with other materials like concrete and plaster! Contact us if you don’t see the material you want to use below.
Rigid Materials
Low Cost/General Purpose
Hard Pro 70-3
Lowest cost, fast-curing rigid urethane. Popular choice for general uses. Not suited to high-stress applications.
Durometer: 70D
ABS-Like
TP-4050
ABS-like material. Extremely tough and rigid, not suited to applications that require flexibility.
Durometer: 80D
Polypropylene-Like
TC-879
Polypropylene-like material. Very flexible and tough. Not suited to high-stress applications which require rigidity.
Durometer: 78D
Clear Acrylic-Like
Innoclear 7086
Clear, acrylic-like resin with high UV stability. Expensive and slow to cure. May require multiple molds.
Durometer: 80D
Food and Medical Grade
Steralloy R-Series
Food-grade and biocompatible urethane for medical applications. Relatively expensive compared to other materials.
Durometer: 76D-85D
High Heat
TP-4020
High-heat resin with 345°F heat operating temperature. Extremely rigid, not suited to flexible applications.
Durometer: 80D
UL 94 V-1 Flame Retardant
Inno-FR 4016
UL 94 V-1 flame-retardant polyurethane with ABS-like mechanical properties. More expensive and slower to cure than TP-4050.
Durometer: 70D
UL 94 V-0 and FAR 25.853 Flame Retardant
Inno-FR 4014
UL 94 V-0 and FAR 25.853 flame-retardant polyurethane. Better flame rating than Inno 4016 but not as stiff or durable.
Durometer: 70D
Tooling Composite
TASK 18
Heavy aluminum-filled composite for tooling. Zero shrink, dissipates heat and extremely rigid. Not for mechanical parts.
Durometer: 88D
Elastomers
General-Purpose Rubber
BJB F-Series
Fast-curing, flexible urethane rubber material with a range of applications. Available in all A hardness ratings.
Durometer: 5A-95A
General-Purpose Silicone
MoldStar 20T
Fast-curing platinum silicone, able to cheaply make many parts a day. Cures too fast for larger parts.
Durometer: 20A
Tooling Silicone
P-44
Durable, slow-curing platinum silicone for tooling and large volumes. More expensive than urethane and Moldstar 20T.
Durometer: 42A
Food-Grade Rigid Silicone
Smooth Sil 960
Green, food-grade silicone approved for direct food contact. Relatively high rigidity and low shrinkage.
Durometer: 60A
Food-Grade Soft Silicone
SORTA-Clear 37
Clear, food-grade silicone approved for direct food contact. Less rigid than Smooth Sil. Low shrinkage.
Durometer: 37A
Start Casting Today
If you’re ready to start a cast urethane or silicone project, get a free quote in 24 hours or less by filling out our quick quote form.
Interested in our other services? RapidMade is your go-to source when it comes to 3D Printing for Prototyping and more.
Our engineers will review your project and get back to you with a cost estimate and project analysis. Want to learn more? Give us a call!