Small batch processing including CNC processing and Vacuum casting two ways, CNC processing can make plastic, can also make metal. Vacuum casting is a kind of pro prototype processing method, suitable for making small batch soft adhesive, ABS, nylon and other materials of the hand plate, Vacuum casting production cycle is short, low cost, but its production accuracy is only ± 0.2mm or so, if the model precision requirements are very strict, try not to choose this way to do.
CNC processing: is more commonly used prototype processing, processing accuracy than other processing methods to high, the processing of a wide range of materials, plastic and metal materials can be processed, there are high requirements for the precision of the proposed use of CNC processing.
The main advantage of small batch prototypes is low cost and short production cycle. For example, CNC processing needs a few hundred dollars to do the prototype, using Vacuum casting to do, only a few dollars can be done, dozens of prototype 3 or 4 days can be done. Effectively reduced the enterprise new product design and development time and cost..jpg)
Processing technology of small batch prototype:
1: the original version should be made before the production of vacuum casting. The original version is usually done by CNC machining or 3D printing. After the original version is finished, the manual department can be polished. The materials of silicone mold are: ABS, PP, PC, POM, PA, soft adhesive and so on.
2: Vacuum casting: mainly used for small batch prototype, short cycle, low cost, but the performance and precision of prototypes is not as good as CNC processing, under normal circumstances, the service life of silica gel mold is about 10-20 times.
The probability of making mistakes is small, as long as there is no problem with the prototype, there will be no problem with the product.
But the disadvantage of small batch prototype is to make the finished product, will be affected by hot expansion and cold shrinkage, resulting in the size will shrink, these factors should be considered, otherwise the prototype is not qualified. Small batch prototype model processing compared to CNC processing, in terms of accuracy cannot be compared, so the use of the above two processing methods have their advantages.
FAQ:
The two primary methods are CNC processing and vacuum casting. CNC is used for high-precision prototypes in metal and plastic, while vacuum casting is ideal for low-cost, low-volume plastic parts.
Choose CNC processing when your project requires high dimensional accuracy, tight tolerances (typically better than ±0.05 mm), or when using metal materials.
CNC processing supports a wide range of plastics (ABS, POM, PC, PA, etc.) and metals (aluminum, brass, steel, etc.).
Vacuum casting offers low cost, short lead time (as fast as 3–4 days), and is suitable for materials like ABS, nylon, and soft rubber. It's ideal for concept validation or limited functional testing.
Vacuum casting typically has a dimensional accuracy of around ±0.2 mm, which is lower than CNC machining. For tight tolerance parts, CNC is the better option.
The original master model is usually created by CNC machining or 3D printing and then manually polished before silicone molding.
A silicone mold used in vacuum casting typically lasts for about 10–20 copies before degradation affects accuracy or quality.
CNC prototypes may cost hundreds of dollars per part, while vacuum casting can produce parts for just a few dollars each, making it ideal for small production runs.
Shrinkage due to thermal expansion and contraction can affect dimensions, and performance and strength may not match that of CNC-machined parts.
Yes. CNC machining is often used to create the master prototype, which is then used to make a silicone mold for vacuum casting—combining precision with cost-effectiveness.
