trimming
Trim the edges and outer contour to improve the consistency of feel and appearance; suitable for cosmetic parts and handheld parts.
Silicone Rubber
Silicone Rubber series vacuum casting materials are used to create "high elasticity/weather resistance/soft touch" soft prototypes, commonly for seals, waterproofing, shock absorption, and soft-touch components.
Quote checklist: Upload your 3D model and, when available, a 2D drawing. Identify the required process, material, quantity, critical dimensions, finish, appearance standard, and target delivery date.
Key Material and Manufacturing Parameters
Engineering note: Values below are typical reference ranges. Final manufacturability, tolerances, material condition, surface finish, cost, and lead time depend on the drawing, geometry, quantity, and selected process.
Upload CAD files and mark critical features for an engineering review before production.
| Process | Vacuum Casting |
|---|---|
| Material type | plastic |
| Material subcategory | soft plastic |
| Accuracy | ±0.2 mm |
| Minimum wall thickness | 1.0mm |
| Service temperature | 300-600℃ |
| Tensile strength | 450-1100MPa |
| Density | 7.7-8.5 g/cm³ |
| Requirements tag | Appearance prototype, flexibility |
| Finishing | Trimming, removing edges, dyeing |
| Typical lead time | Related to structural complexity, quantity, finishing and production scheduling; clear delivery and expedited options will be given after uploading the file |
Finishing
Go to the front
Clean the parting line and edge to reduce the risk of scratching and improve the assembly experience; it is more important for card slots, sealing edges, etc.
Dyeing
Used to achieve the target color and appearance; it is recommended to provide a color card/reference picture and explain the acceptable range of color difference in the remarks.
Why choose silicone (vacuum casting)
Flexible and hand-friendly
Suitable for prototypes and verification parts that require elasticity, cushioning or soft touch; closer to the experience of soft rubber finished products.
Appearance prototype is cost-effective
Balance between cost, appearance and performance, suitable for staged reviews and small batch verification.
Small batch replication is more flexible
When you need a small number of multiple iterations or a small batch of prototypes, vacuum casting can lower the threshold for trial production and improve response speed.
Finishing is more suitable for delivery
Supports trimming, stripping and dyeing, making it easier to push the appearance and feel to a more deliverable state.
Recommended Applications
- Flexible/elastic demand: Prototypes and verification parts that require soft touch, cushioning, and slight deformation
- Appearance review: Have requirements for appearance consistency and want to control costs
- Small batch samples: Multiple rounds of iteration or small batch copying, the delivery rhythm is more flexible
- Need color rendering: Optional dyeing to meet display and review needs
It is not recommended to use it directly (it is recommended to change materials/processes)
- Higher strength/wear resistance: Recommended to evaluate higher performance material systems
- Higher temperature resistance/long-term harsh working conditions: It is recommended to select materials according to actual working conditions and consult an engineer.
- Extreme size and ultra-thin structure: It is recommended to conduct a DFM review first and adjust the structure or route if necessary.
- Extremely sensitive to zero defects in appearance: It is recommended to clarify appearance standards and evaluate process accessibility
Design and DFM Guidelines
- Key size priority: Please mark the key assembly dimensions/datum surfaces; if there are matching requirements, it is recommended to provide 2D markings (PDF/DWG).
- Wall thickness and uniformity: Refer to the minimum wall thickness requirements (1.0mm) and try to avoid sudden changes in thickness; add transition fillets if necessary to reduce stress concentration.
- Appearance surface definition: Please specify the display/appearance surface in the remarks. We will give priority to controlling the parting line, edge and processing path in the plan.
- Sharp edges and safety: It is recommended to avoid sharp corners and sharp edges on the handpiece to facilitate trimming and trimming for a more comfortable feel.
- Color and Consistency: If dyeing is required, please provide a reference color and acceptable color difference range; for high consistency requirements, it is recommended to produce in the same batch and unify standards.