Low-Pressure Molding
Reaction Injection Molding
Low-cost tooling for volumes between vacuum casting and traditional injection molding. Tough, impact-resistant parts with greater accuracy — from 10 to 10,000+ units per mold.
Tooling
Four Mold Options
Choose the right tooling level based on your volume, budget, and accuracy requirements.
Silicone Rubber Mold
1-25 partsFastest and most economical option for very low volumes. Silicone molds capture fine detail and are ideal for initial design validation and small R&D runs.
- Lowest tooling cost
- Fast turnaround
- Fine detail capture
- Ideal for prototyping
ABS Plastic Machined Mold
25-100 partsCNC machined ABS plastic molds offer better dimensional consistency than silicone for medium runs. More durable than silicone with improved part-to-part repeatability.
- Better repeatability
- More durable than silicone
- CNC machined accuracy
- Medium volume sweet spot
Hybrid Mold
100-2,000+ partsCombination of machined metal and plastic components, offering a balance between cost and durability. The go-to option when volumes justify better tooling but do not yet need full metal molds.
- Cost-effective at volume
- Metal + plastic construction
- Good durability
- 100-2,000+ parts per mold
Metal Mold
Up to 10,000 partsFully machined aluminium or steel molds for the highest volume RIM production. Maximum durability, tightest tolerances, and best part-to-part consistency over thousands of cycles.
- Highest durability
- Tightest tolerances
- Up to 10,000 parts
- Best consistency
Advantages
Why RIM
Greater Accuracy
More accurate than vacuum casting thanks to rigid mold construction and controlled injection parameters.
Stronger Materials
Tough ABS/PP grade polyurethane resins with high impact resistance — outperforming vacuum casting resins in mechanical properties.
FR-Grade Available
Flame retardant grade polyurethane resins meeting UL94 V-0 requirements for electrical and safety-critical enclosures.
Large Part Capability
Ideal for large parts like automobile bumpers, dashboard components, and full-size medical device housings.
Low-Pressure Process
Low injection pressures mean lower tooling cost compared to traditional injection molding — significant savings on mold investment.
Bridge to Production
The perfect manufacturing method for volumes between prototyping (vacuum casting) and full production (injection molding).
Applications
Typical Applications
Comparison
Where RIM Fits
Vacuum Casting
1-50 parts
Best for initial prototypes and very low volumes. Lower material strength, flexible silicone molds.
RIM
10-10,000 parts
The sweet spot — stronger materials, better accuracy, multiple tooling options. Lower cost than injection molding.
Injection Molding
10,000+ parts
Full production volumes with steel tooling. Highest per-part cost savings at scale but significant tooling investment.
Get a Quote for RIM
Tell us about your part — geometry, material, volume, and timeline. We will recommend the right mold option and provide a comprehensive quote within 24 hours.