Pewter Casting
Totally separate yet integral to the VICMAR Contract Manufacturing and Assembly is our pewter spincast factory. The nice thing about spin casting is that, since pewter melts around 600 degrees or even lower, it doesn't require all that expensive mold investment to pour into. Using centrifugal force, we simply pour molten metal directly into high temperature rubber molds spinning at high speed and 15 minutes later, we pop out a cast tree ready for cut-off & finishing. This allows us to make all those nifty guild pins and other dubious knick-knacks we're known for.

Spin-Casting uses adjustable centrifugal force to inject molted metal into a vulcanized silicone rubber cylindrical mold under pressure, completely filled the mold cavities. Venting systems eliminate air pockets and voids to produce strong, high strength zinc alloy castings with virtually identical strength, surface finish and dimensional characteristics as those produced by die casting or other processes, at greatly reduced cost and lead times. Typical heat-cured silicone molds and initial castings can be produced in less than 1 day at a cost of $100 to $500, including labor. Tolerances of + or - .00 For more information, including additional Rapid Prototyping case histories, contact VICMAR.

Designs start in wax, then are cast into bronze (cast by a
bronze foundry).

Bronze finished castings are "cooked" in rubber which starts out soft. It expands when heated (then hardens)and is contained in a steel ring. (bottom and top "platten" heating oven with 50-ton press.)

The finished molds break apart where it has previously been sprayed with silicon and then "talced"(with talc powder). Through the top is a hole in which the metal will be poured through.

After the metal, "Pewter" is heated up to 600 degrees, it is poured through the center "top" as the mold spins inside the Air-Spin Caster (which uses air pressure to "clamp" the rubber mold in place), (Melting Pot and "Front-Loading" Air-Spin Casting Machine.)