In today’s fast-moving manufacturing world, businesses need production methods that offer precision, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Two processes that have proven essential across industries—especially for product development, prototyping, and low-volume production—are CNC EDM and Urethane Casting. While both serve different purposes, together they help manufacturers create high-quality parts with remarkable accuracy and speed.

What Is CNC EDM?

CNC EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) is a subtractive manufacturing process that shapes metal using electrical sparks. Instead of cutting tools, EDM removes material through controlled electrical discharges between the workpiece and an electrode. This allows engineers to create extremely intricate shapes, sharp corners, and complex cavities that traditional machining often struggles with.

A major advantage of CNC EDM is its ability to work with very hard materials like stainless steel, titanium, and tool steels. When industries require high precision—such as aerospace, medical devices, molds, or automotive parts—CNC EDM provides unmatched accuracy and surface finish. Whether it’s die sinking EDM for molds or wire EDM for fine cuts, the process ensures consistent results even for the most detailed components.

Where Urethane Casting Comes In

On the other hand, Urethane Casting is a process commonly used for creating prototypes or low-volume production parts. It involves using silicone molds to cast parts from polyurethane materials. The result is a part that closely resembles injection-molded plastic—both visually and functionally—without the high tooling costs.

Urethane Casting is ideal for product developers who need parts quickly for testing, marketing samples, or functional evaluation. It supports a variety of materials offering different hardness levels, colors, textures, and finishes. From consumer product housings to medical device prototypes, urethane-cast parts perform exceptionally well in real-world environments.

Why Combining Both Processes Works So Well

While CNC EDM and Urethane Casting serve different purposes, they are often used together in the manufacturing workflow. CNC EDM is frequently used to create precision tools, master patterns, and mold inserts needed for casting processes. With its high-level accuracy, EDM ensures that the silicone molds used in Urethane Casting reproduce every detail with perfection.

This combination helps companies reduce lead times, lower production costs, and bring products to market faster. Designers can prototype using Urethane Casting, refine the design, and then move into full-scale production confidently.

Final Thoughts

CNC EDM and Urethane Casting each offer unique advantages, but together they form a powerful solution for modern manufacturing challenges. Whether you’re creating detailed metal components or producing high-quality plastic prototypes, these processes ensure reliability, speed, and precision—key elements for successful product development in any industry.