Flexible parts are often referred to colloquially as â??rubberâ?? parts. Whilst rubber forms a substantial proportion of them, there are also flexible polyurethanes and thermoplastic elastomers to consider. Advantages Of Auto Oil And Gas Rubber Parts Vacuum Casting â?¢ Low cost for molds â?¢ Molds can be made in a few days â?¢ Many types of polyurethane resins are available for casting, including overmolding â?¢ Cast copies are highly accurate with excellent surface texture â?¢ Molds are durable for 20 or more copies â?¢ Perfect for engineering models, samples, rapid prototypes, bridge to production Product Details for Auto Oil And Gas Rubber Parts Vacuum Casting Prototyping flexible parts The advantage of prototyping parts designed from rubber or flexible elastomers such as silicone, is that it enables you to confirm the required rigidity of the material before committing to production tooling. However, prototyping flexible parts can be a challenge! The quickest option is to 3D print â??rubberâ?? or other flexible parts, however whilst they may demonstrate a level of elongation in a variety of harnessesâ??, their properties fall well short of production intent materials and little can be done to improve the layered surface finish. (Note, flexibility can be achieved through additive techniques but tear strength, chemical resistance and elongation to break will be significantly reduced). So Shbury will select vacuum casting to produce auto oil and gas rubber parts to increase the tea strength.