"SiOCAST has a unique story to tell when it comes to integrating 3D printing with resin casting. With the rise of MMORPG online games as well as RPG board games has come a rapidly growing demand for custom miniature figurines. Instead of going for the costly route of spin casting, or the limited series allowed with vacuum casting silicone molds, the company developed a patented resin injection system that works with a custom-developed machine and HTV rubber molds.

Their proprietary material, SiOres, even works with liquefied thermoplastic resins up to 240 ˚C. A SiOCAST machine is up to twenty times faster than traditional resin casting and could produce as many as 1,000 parts per hour with automation and rotating multi-cavity molds.

All master patterns are 3D printed using a Formlabs SLA printer and post-processed with Formlabs’ automated cleaning and curing systems, Form Wash and Form Cure. With reusable runners produced through SLS 3D printing, the process is further sped up to create up to 64 miniatures per casting.

Where injection molding produces the occasional error because it has to deal with more critical conditions and viscous materials, these vacuum cast models are without exception impeccable replicas of the original sculpture and ready to satisfy the digital soul of many a gamer." 

Written by formlabs 
Link: https://formlabs.com/blog/vacuum-casting-urethane-casting-polyurethane-casting/