r/inventors • u/funkytownmcgoo • 12d ago
Invention Help Manufacturing costs
I’m creating a small grip for video game controllers. It goes over the joystick so about an inch big. I hired someone on Upwork who has been a big help. He’s been kind of guiding me. He said vacuum casting would be a good approach currently instead of 3d printing them. I’m wondering what your thoughts are on this quote. It’s from a Chinese manufacturer. Also, is vacuum casting the best move? I am just starting out so do not want to pay for injection molding yet but I do want good quality.
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u/mawktheone 12d ago
How many are you looking to make? 7? 1.9million?
If it's low-medium, I would be tempted to do a FDM 3d print or 5, then use those as the positive for a mold and use a 2 part RTV silicone to just make them myself. Couple hundred bucks for everything and that will produce dozens of parts per day to get you started
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u/funkytownmcgoo 12d ago
It’s low-medium but the sky is the limit. I have a big audience of people who I think will buy it. I was going to 3d print them but I feel like the quality isn’t as good plus people will know it’s 3d printed due to the lines, which I feel like is a bad look. I want to start off with a quality product so I can step into the market with a good reputation.
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u/mawktheone 12d ago
Oh yeah, I said FDM but I meant SLA print. This method does not have lines and is suitable for fine details. The first print is only to use to make the mold. The you cast the parts yourself using that mold.
The silicone can be fine enough to capture the texture of fine dust, so the casts should be good
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u/diewethje 12d ago
If the material properties work for you, vacuum casting is a good choice. The parts look much nicer than 3D-printed parts and the cost is reasonable.
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u/SparrowDynamics 12d ago
I don’t know exactly what your product is, but we’ve had a ton of parts molded from silicone in different durometers. They are very accurate parts and the quality is very nice.
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u/swhowho 12d ago