Spin casting as a tool in rapid prototyping (centrifugal rubber mould casting)

The one thing that comes to mind when parts are manufactured by means of spin casting is the dimensions of the parts, the reason being that it is very difficult to produce castings with high tolerances. There are numerous factors in the spin casting process that influence the final product. Some of these factors are the temperature of the mould, the temperature of the material used for casting, the spin speed of the mould and the clamping pressure on the mould. The type of material used for casting will also influence the accuracy of the final product. In our research we control these factors to see what influence a certain factor has on the process. We are working towards being able to predict what the shrinkage of a part cast will be in a certain material, to incorporate a shrinkage factor in the prototype, to ensure that the final product will be on size.