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Urethane casting in Cast urethane (polyurethane)
Cast urethane (polyurethane) is one of the most economical choices for urethane casting: low tooling cost: a silicone mold costs a fraction of an aluminum injection mold. On a representative housing at 100 pieces it estimates at about $34.90 per part plus $3,644 tooling, with a lead time of 1–2 weeks. Typical tolerance is About ±0.010 in (±0.25 mm) on features under a few inches; about 0.15% shrink.
- Per part
- $34.90
- Tooling
- $3,644
- Lead time
- 1–2 weeks
Price it in Cast urethane
Housing · Urethane casting
Order total $7,138
- Tooling
- $3,644
- one-time, spread over the order
- Piece price
- $34.90
- before setup + tooling
- Lead time
- 1–2 weeks
- to first production
Size
Drag a row to adjust · click to type
Length140140 mm
Width90.090.0 mm
Wall2.202.20 mm
Quantity
Price per part falls as volume rises
Exact quantity100100 pcs
Material
Design checks pass
Open in builderBudgetary estimate for a representative part. Firm quotes come from principals after drawing review.
Cast urethane vs other urethane casting materials
The same housing at 100 pieces, priced in every material the process runs. Silicone is the lowest all-in cost.
| Material | Per part | All-in | Weight | Tensile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone rubber (VMQ) | $33.20 | $69.70 | 83 g | 8 MPa |
| Cast urethane (polyurethane) | $34.90 | $71.40 | 83 g | 50 MPa |
Cast urethane at a glance
- Tensile strength
- 50 MPa22th pct
- Density
- 1.15 g/cm³17th pct
- Elongation
- 15 %41th pct
- Relative cost
- $$$$$
Bars are relative to the strongest, densest or hottest material in the SSG library. Percentile vs all 48 materials.
Strengths
- Low tooling cost: a silicone mold costs a fraction of an aluminum injection mold
- Rigid, clear, flexible and flame-retardant grades
- Pigmented in the pour or painted to match
- Captures fine texture and detail from the master
- Inserts and overmolding are possible
Watch for
- About 20–25 parts per silicone mold; volumes above a few hundred favor aluminum tooling
- Properties simulate but do not match production thermoplastics; validate critical tests
- Typical heat deflection of about 140–200 °F (60–95 °C), lower than most engineering thermoplastics
- Tolerances of about ±0.010 in (±0.25 mm) for the first inch, looser beyond
Finishes for this combination
Urethane casting design rules
0.060–0.120 in (1.5–3 mm) preferred; 0.040 in (1 mm) minimum
Wall thickness
None required; about 0.5° helps on deep walls
Draft
Moderate undercuts are acceptable
Undercuts
Keep sections under about 0.5 in (13 mm)
Avoid thick sections
Rib thickness 50–60% of the adjoining wall
Size ribs like a molded part
Cast in or press in threaded inserts
Use inserts for threads
Questions
How much does urethane casting in Cast urethane cost?
For a representative part (open housing 140 mm × 90 mm × 36 mm, 2.2 mm wall, 1° draft, 4 bosses, 2 ribs), SSG's estimator gives about $34.90 per part at 100 pieces, plus about $3,644 one-time tooling. All-in with tooling and setup that is $71.40 per part. It is budgetary; principals quote firm prices from your drawing.
Is Cast urethane a good material for urethane casting?
It is when you need low tooling cost: a silicone mold costs a fraction of an aluminum injection mold and rigid, clear, flexible and flame-retardant grades. Watch for about 20–25 parts per silicone mold; volumes above a few hundred favor aluminum tooling. Of 2 materials run in urethane casting, it ranks 2 on all-in cost for the same part.
What finishes work on Cast urethane urethane casting parts?
Common options are wet paint (liquid coating), spi mold polish (a-1 to d-3), mold texture (mold-tech, vdi). The builder adds each finish's lot charge, per-part cost and days to the estimate.
What tolerance can urethane casting hold in Cast urethane?
Typical capability is About ±0.010 in (±0.25 mm) on features under a few inches; about 0.15% shrink. Tighter tolerances are possible on called-out features at added cost; specify them on the drawing rather than as a blanket note.
Quote urethane casting in Cast urethane.
Upload your CAD or start from a template. The DFM check applies the rules above to your geometry.