A two-part silicone mold of a 3D printed part, step by step
Difficultymedium
Timetwo evenings
Costabout $40 in silicone
- Print the master at 0.12 mm layers, sand to 400 grit, prime and clear coat. Wait 24 hours (uncured resin inhibits platinum silicone).
- Build a mold box from foam board or LEGO. Bed the master halfway in oil-free clay (water-based or Monster Clay) along the natural parting line. Press registration keys (marbles, pen caps) into the clay.
- Spray release, pour the first half of silicone. Cure overnight.
- Flip, remove clay, clean the silicone face, spray release generously (silicone sticks to silicone), pour the second half.
- Demold, cut a pour spout and a couple of vents to the high points with a scalpel.
- Band the halves together with rubber bands and a flat board on each side, pour resin, pressure pot if you have one.
Budget: about $40 of silicone for a fist-sized part.
Materials
- platinum silicone (Shore 20 to 30A)
- sulfur-free clay
- mold release
- foam board or LEGO
- marbles for keys
Tools
- digital scale
- mixing cups and sticks
- scalpel
- rubber bands
#two-part-mold#silicone#3d-printing#resin#mold-making
18
💬 8 comments
8 comments
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Would this work on the older model? Mine is about ten years older than the one shown.
Unplug it. Always. Takes two seconds and the worst case otherwise is a trip to the ER.
Would this work on the older model? Mine is about ten years older than the one shown.
Small addition: wear eye protection for the part where you pry it. Learned that one the hard way.
Upvoted for the safety notes alone.
Great find. Did not know this channel existed.
Bookmarking. I have exactly this problem and was about to pay someone.
Followed along, got it done in about twice the time quoted, but it is done and it works.