Similar Processes
Spin casting is a favored method for anyone fabricating items in the specified materials – low temperature metals and thermoset plastics. Compared to the two main competing processes – injection molding and (zinc) die-casting; spin casting has significant advantages in terms of startup costs and ease of use. In some cases, spin casting can also be an alternative to sand casting, plaster mold casting or investment casting. However these three techniques (sand, plaster and lost wax) are not directly comparable as each utilizes a one-time use or expendable mold
| Spin casting | Die casting | Injection molding | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mold material | Vulcanized rubber | Machined tool steel | Machined aluminum, brass or tool steel |
| Casting material | Zinc, tin, lead, pewter, thermoset plastics, pattern wax | Zinc, aluminum, magnesium | Most thermoplastics |
| Average cost of tooling (USD) | $35–250 | $10,000–250,000 | $5,000–150,000 |
| Ability to make design changes | Easiest | Very difficult | Very difficult |
| Typical initial lead time | 4 hours to 2 days | 12 to 24 weeks | 12 to 24 weeks |
| Casting tolerances | Very close | Closest | Closest |
| Piece price | Very low | Lowest | Lowest |
| Size range | 0.5–12 in (13–300 mm) | 0.5–24 in (13–610 mm) | 0.5–24 in (13–610 mm) |
The remarkable disparity in tooling cost and lead time is a result of the expensive and time consuming machining required to produce the precision metal molds (dies) used with die-casting and plastic injection molding. However, the precision tooling and resilient nature of the machined metal die translates to an extremely longer-lasting mold (die) and slight improvements to casting tolerances. Furthermore thermoplastics and die casting metal alloys are in wider use than their specialized spin casting analogs, and as a result are typically cheaper.
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