QUICK SOFT TOOLING:
One way is starting with a ?Master?. This can be an ?SLA? part, a machined part from plastic or metal, or a part the client has made.
Silicone or urethane can be poured around the master, cured, then the master removed, leaving a cavity that is the exact impression of the master. If multiple molds are needed, the master can generally be used several times to generate several molds.
Urethanes or silicones are then poured into the mold, cured, then removed and can be post processed which can include finishing and painting, or post-machining.
The life of the mold (how many parts that can be cast before the mold begins to deteriorate) will depend on the geometry of the part and the materials used in the casting of it.
ACRYLIC TOOLING:
For more durable tooling, when tight tolerances need to be kept and when a 3-D model is available for the geometry, the mold cavity can be directly CNC Machined into acrylic. Depending on the geometry of the part, many cavities may be able to be machined at the same time, often called a gang mold. Again, silicone or urethane can be injected into the mold, producing many cast parts quickly.
Direct-Machined-Acrylic Molds are a cost-effective alternative when injection mold tooling can?t justify the quantity of parts needed, as for Short Run Production (tens, hundreds or thousands of parts) or as an interm step when waiting for high production methods to tool up.