Polyamide casting

Do you need a maximum of 100 polyamide cast parts with high chemical and thermal resistance? Polyamide injection molding is not an option due to the high equipment cost? Polyamide casting in silicone molds is the method that you need. Due to the low die costs, polyamide casting is a particularly attractive economical procedure following rapid prototyping for the reproduction of models in small batches.

Polyamide casting process

Polyamide casting is similar to the classic Vacuum casting method with PU. However, the polyamide casting process is more demanding in terms of temperature control and the reduction of moisture. A silicone mold is made from a master model fabricated by stereolithography. In this mold, the monomer starting components are mixed with an activator during the casting process and polymerized to form a polyamide over a few minutes. After the mold is opened, the polyamide components are finished. G.W.P. guarantees a yield of 20 components per mold. Polyamide cast parts (thermoplastics) have better chemical and thermal properties in comparison to polyurethane cast parts. Fillers and fiberglass additives can be used to modify properties. The dimensional precision of polyamide cast parts is approximately ± 0.3% (at least ± 0.3 mm) below that of injection molding. More demanding tolerance requirements can only be satisfied by mechanical finishing.

Advantages of polyamide casting:

• Complex polyamide prototypes with a high level of dimensional stability
• Batch sizes of 1-100 (typically 20-40)
• Very good material properties (thermoplastic): Tough, hard, good abrasion resistance, very good thermal resistance, positive chemical resistance
• Inserts (insert nuts, etc.) and mold cores are also possible
• Can be colored and painted RAL colors
• Fusion welding and gluing
• For early phases of product development
• Ideal prototyping when polyamide injection molding is used for series production (production-like properties)
• Flaws arising from the injection molding process are identified before series production
• Fast and economical mold production (silicone mold)
• Molds can be quickly changed
• Substantial savings are possible with small batch sizes and complex components