Published Article / This article looks at the role that vacuum casting plays in the rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing process. The accuracy to which components can be reproduced, by looking at the controllable factors in the casting process and the different types of materials that are available, were investigated and the process was also compared to other rapid prototyping and manufacturing processes in terms of cost effectiveness. Castings were made from a typical component under different operating conditions and the characteristics of the cast component, dimensions strength and surface hardness, were measured and plotted to determine the characteristics and accuracy of the process.

The main aim of this thesis is to make a design of a vacuum casting chamber. The first part of this thesis is based on a research of the vacuum casting chamber which is available on the market, subsequently a thorough analysis of the casting process and key construction elements of the device is made. Most of the thesis focuses on making of a new construction design of the new device. At the end of the thesis economic evaluation and risk analysis is carried out.

The aim of thesis is to describe the basic methods called Rapid Prototyping in theory and using one of them to create master model. Master model will be used to create silicone mould where a limited series of wax models will be by means of vacuum casting chamber. They will also be used to make ceramic form in which the final pad will be cast from freely accessible materials. After processing it the suitability of the proposed technologies for the production of the part in question will be assessed.

The aim of this work is to compare technology of silicon and aluminium moulds used to make castings using technology of cire perdue with single – piece work. The work itself deals with physical production of silicon mould in vacuum casting system, shaping aluminium mould using CNC machine and subsequent casting of wax models into these moulds. It also handles with physical production of one piece by shaping. It contains background research of the method lost wax casting manufacturing aluminium and silicon moulds and last but not least of Rapid Prototyping technology for producing master model.

This Diploma Thesis deals with modern technologies such as 3D scanning, rapid prototyping and vacuum casting to production of prototype form. It considers advantages and disadvantages of the modern technologies compared to traditional process of manufacturing prototype form and economical contribution using the modern technologies. Part of the thesis considers a choice of suitable manufacturing technology of a particular product.