Vacuum casting is a process that can be pretty useful to work with plastics since it's mostly centered around it. Silicone will always be the top choice for it, but there is a lot more ground to cover when it comes to the number of utilities we can actually get from it. How do we make these decisions? As usual, the process requires a high degree of homework to understand what we want for our project. The following are some of the factors we need to consider when choosing materials to work on vacuum casting.

Features

Features are the first one on the list because it covers a lot of ground. Most of what you need to learn about your products is found in this phase and can help make your choice easier for the count. The main features you need to consider for your finished product are rigidity, color, type of surface, strength, flexibility, and appearance. Once you have figured out every one of the features, you can move forward with your materials choice.

Properties

You would think that properties are closely related to your project's main features, and you could not be more wrong. This is a whole different spectrum you need to study on its own means. Your finished product's properties should reflect its main purpose: how do you want it to look, should it be translucent? Do it needs a coat of paint? Does it need coloring dye mixed up in the silicone? Does it need to be UV resistant? All of these questions should be on your list when considering the properties of your product.

Durability

Another factor that rings too close the main features, yet it needs a separate study on your end. There is no worse secret in any industry than planned obsolesce. Does the product you are creating follow these criteria? Does it need a replacement every once in a while? Is it the part you are creating meant to last for a long time? Durability goes hand to hand with the budget, so you need to make a deep case study for the product you are making. Otherwise, you risk creating something amazing in performance but not profitable in the long run.

Overall Added Value

Your products need to fit some criteria for the market that will service. You need to understand how mixing them up can help you out in the long run. You can use rubber if you want elasticity, but you can also get transparency if you mix it up with ABS. Polypropylene is a lighter plastic but mixed up with polyimide or nylon, and you get something that is weightless and rigid at the same time. Your workshop should have technicians who are well versed in these mixtures and how they can help your project in the long run.