Development of a Low-Cost Automatic Vacuum Degassing System for Rapid Tooling

Abstract

Silicone rubber mold is frequently used in the indirect tooling. Automatic vacuum casting system is widely used to degas in the manufacturing of silicone rubber mold, but the cost of hardware is very expensive. A low-cost automatic vacuum degassing system is designed, build and test in this study. Optimized parameters for degassing process are investigated. The saving in the degassing time is about 23.4%.This system offers many advantages such as reducing human error of operator, reducing noise and air pollutions derived from the vacuum pump of the vacuum casting system.