Getting access to modern manufacturing technology is the only way to offer quality results when you're designing something. Using high-quality materials offers desired aesthetics for your prototypes while also giving a better picture of how the finished product will look.

To get to this stage, many tests are required on the side of the prototype before getting into production or even planning a launching date.

Most issues related to design are addressed during the design process since the use of digital models makes this revision process far more straightforward than in the past. The modern problem we face is the revisions arising during the pre-series production.

Making a Pre-Series

A pre-series is a way to get cheaper molds developed using inexpensive materials such as silicone or low-end plastics. Working with these types of base materials for molds is affordable, and you can churn over a good number of them to handle as many revisions as possible while sorting out details to make the perfect final mold.

This process is used to create things such as bumpers for cars, dashboards, control panels, and protective encasing for electronic devices. Most of these pieces have similar traits: they are made to withstand external impacts and protect people's lives or specific devices from elements or accidents.

What is a "Final Design"

Certain projects require a ton of revisions using a pre-series to get the final mold developed to be able to finish the product. When a product reaches the last point in corrections, it's labeled a "Final Design." Pre-series allow clients to review models before being developed, so there are nearly zero chances of the final product being poorly conceived or delivered.

When transparent plastics are used, it makes every part of the design readily viable for revision. The initial development of master molds for these products is developed using stereolithography, one of the best 3D printing techniques available in the market.

How Stereolithography Helps Vacuum Casting

Stereolithography is a discipline that has evolved. The early machines that used it have been updated to basic user levels. The process itself has been around for nearly 50 years, but it was patented in 1984 by Chuck Hull, who created the first-ever 3D printer.

The man built a business by creating vacuum casting parts for nearly every automotive company. He used liquid polymers at high temperatures, which cross-linked intermolecular bonds to create sculptures quickly and inexpensively. That's why so many cars these days have plastic parts instead of metal builds.

How Most Manufacturing Processes Evolved Since Then?

The medical industry reached the most incredible breakthroughs. Many medical prostheses were created back in the 90s, with even moving parts for hearts being made. Vacuum casting was heavily used in other industries to generate final designs. The ongoing update of the technology has also speeded up the development of new products.

In the past, a prototype used to take weeks or even months if it had to be functional. Top these conditions with their complexity, and it's not hard to see the advancements. These days almost every single design can be brought to life in a single day with current 3D printing techniques. Final designs have become customary and more efficient since it allows developers to reduce costs and create complex designs with intricate materials.

Closing Thoughts

Vacuum casting is one of the cheapest ways to get things done in the modern manufacturing industry. It's a process that highlights the benefits of the technology used to speed up things and fulfill requirements in a short time. It's also been a deal-breaker for many industries. More vehicles use plastic and polymers than they use metals. We have to thank a great deal for that shift to vacuum casting.