TPU Vacuum Casting

TPU, the abbreviation of thermoplastic polyurethane, is a thermoplastic elastomer that offers elasticity, transparency, excellent abrasion resistance, and high impact and tensile strength.

Vacuum casting TPU parts are recommended for applications that require abrasion and chemical resistance, great flexibility, high strength and toughness.

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Our TPU Materials

Vacuum casting TPU is ideal for making prototypes and end-use parts that demand elasticity, transparency, high impact and tensile strength, and good resistance to abrasion and chemical. Fabricate TPU parts with vacuum casting is easy to process. Multicolour is available for TPU parts.

Material	Maximum Printing Size	Standard Lead Time	Tolerance	Color
TPU	900700600mm	7 Business Days	250 μm or 0.25%	Black, White, Transparent, Multicolour

Material Performance

Excellent Abrasion Resistance
Good Chemical Resistance
Low Temperature Flexibility
High Impact Strength
Good Toughness

Advantages

High elasticity. TPU delivers high elasticity and stability to the final parts, making the parts not easily deformed.
Resilience to oils, greases, numerous solvents. TPU vacuum casting parts have great chemical resistance.
Robust and durable. Featuring excellent impact, tensile and tear strengths, and abrasion resistance, vacuum casting TPU can make durable products.
Recyclable. TPU is 100% recyclable and biodegradable, and can biodegrade within 3 - 5 years.

Applications

> Footwear

> Gaskets

> Gears

> Tubes

> Seals

How to TPU vacuum casting?

1. Master Model Building.
First of all, producing vacuum casting prototypes require a high-quality master model with high dimensional accuracy. To ensure the final vacuum casting parts are the same as expected, creating flawless master model is the vital foundation. Master model can be created by 3D Printing or CNC Machining, and dedicated post-processing, grinding, for instance, is necessary. These steps make sure that the master model is perfect to use. At Wenext, we will go through all details before making the master model, like design file checking to guarantee a manufacturable master model.

2. Silicone Mold Making.
Master model is ready to use. Then it’s time to pour liquid silicone into the casting box and fully immerse the master model. It takes several hours to cure the silicone naturally. After the mold is cured, cut open the mold and take the master model out of the mold. You will see a hollow space in the middle of the silicone mold, which fits the dimensions and specifications of the master model. Later on, the silicone mold needs to be cured again at a high temperature in an oven because the mold is still soft and sticky. Curing time would be based on size of the mold.

3. Parts Producing.
The final step is casting parts with the silicone mold. Before casting, clean the surface of the silicone mold again is necessary. Then spraying the silicone mold internal structure with special release agents, attach tape to the edge, and even insert steel bars inside for large mold. All these steps make sure that mold release without damages. Prepare TPU in advance, then fully fill the mold with TPU, the process is done in a vacuum chamber for degassing, ensuring air bubbles are removed. Afterwards, move the TPU part in an oven for curing. Curing time is based on part size as well. The vacuum casting TPU part can be removed from silicone mold after cool down.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why would you choose vacuum casting over 3D Printing?

The major consideration when choosing vacuum casting over 3D Printing is material performance and quality. Vacuum casting provides higher performance materials than better mimic those used in commercial products. If material performance and product appearance are on top priority, vacuum casting should be the alternative.

2. Why would you choose vacuum casting over injection molding?

The critical consideration is cost and quantity. Vacuum casting is more affordable and cost-effective for rapid prototypes to low volume production.

3. How much does it cost to vacuum casting TPU parts?

Prices are based on the structure of the part, order volume, machining processes, etc. You can use our instant quoting engine to get price, or you can email hello@wenext.com for more information.

4. What is TPU vacuum casting?

TPU vacuum casting is the process of casting TPU parts by using vacuum to draw the TPU into the mold, thus making TPU parts with desired structures and geometries.

5. What is TPU?

TPU is the abbreviation of thermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoplastic elastomer that characterizes abrasion resistance, toughness, elasticity, flexibility and resistance to oils and greases. TPU is lighter than metal, has greater resistance than rubber.

6. What is the key difference between TPU and PU?

The main difference between TPU and PU is that TPU is a type of thermoplastic elastomer and is known for its property of being elastic and melt-processable, whereas PU is composed of urethane linkages and are known for temperature bearing abilities as they do not melt when are subject to high temperatures.