ABS Vacuum Casting

ABS Vacuum Casting

ABS, stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, is a common thermoplastic polymer that offers good mechanical properties, excellent impact strength, high heat resistance, and low temperature resistance.

Vacuum casting ABS is a versatile solution for applications that require high strength and stiffness, durability, low temperature and heat resistance.

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Material Performance

Material Performance

  • Good Mechanical Properties
  • High Heat Resistance
  • Low Temperature Resistance
  • Excellent Impact Strength
  • Good Chemical Resistance
Material Performance
Advantages

Advantages

  • Easy processing. ABS has good machinability in CNC machining, but also easy to process in vacuum casting, delivering stable product size and good surface gloss.
  • Easy to paint and glue. Besides, to enhance mechanical properties of vacuum casting ABS parts, various post-processing options are available, such as metal spraying, electroplating, welding, hot pressing, and bonding.
  • Low cost. ABS is a relatively inexpensive and versatile plastic for vacuum casting.
  • Green. ABS is recyclable and safe for food processing like food processors and refrigerator linings.

Applications

> Automotive Properties

> Instrument Panels

> Jigs and Fixtures

> Cosmetic Parts

> Enclosures

Applications

How to ABS 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 ABS in advance, then fully fill the mold with ABS, the process is done in a vacuum chamber for degassing, ensuring air bubbles are removed. Afterwards, move the ABS part in an oven for curing. Curing time is based on part size as well. The vacuum casting ABS 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 ABS 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 ABS vacuum casting?

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

5. What is ABS?

ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. ABS is an impact-resistant engineering thermoplastic & amorphous polymer. ABS is made up of three monomers: acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene: Acrylonitrile: It is a synthetic monomer produced from propylene and ammonia. This component contributes to ABS chemical resistance & heat stability Butadiene: It is produced as a by-product of ethylene production from steam crackers. This component delivers toughness & impact strength to ABS polymer Styrene: It is manufactured by dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene. It provides rigidity & processability to ABS plastic

6. What is better ABS or PVC?

ABS is stronger and more impact resistant, PVC is more flexible. ABS is better at handling severely cold temperatures, but it can warp with exposure to direct sunlight. PVC is thought to be better at muffling the sound of running water.

7. Is ABS brittle or ductile?

Ductile. ABS impact properties are exceptionally good at room temperature, low temperature and even high heat. Because of its plastic yield at high strain rates, impact failure of ABS is ductile rather than brittle.

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