Throughout history, artisans have used molds to create everything from Bronze Age weapons to modern consumer goods. Although the first molds were usually made of stone, modern science has produced much easier-to-work materials such as silicon.
Today, a wide variety of industries depend on the production of silicone molds. Product designers, engineers, DIYers, and even chefs make silicone molds to create unique or smaller pieces.
In this handy guide to making silicone molds, we'll explain everything you need to know before you start, provide a list of items you'll need, and give you step-by-step instructions on how to make silicone molds for any type of project.
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Why Make Silicone Molds?
Silicone is a strong choice for mold making as it offers a wide range of benefits. With silicone mold parts you can easily create individual designs. The molds themselves are pretty durable too, so you can use them over and over again without fear of them breaking. The inorganic composition of silicone makes it highly resistant to heat and cold, chemicals and even fungal attack compared to its organic counterpart, rubber. Some of the benefits of silicone molds are as follows:
flexibility
The flexibility of silicone makes work easier. Silicone molds are flexible and lightweight compared to harder materials like plastic, and are also easier to remove once the part is fully formed. Thanks to the high flexibility of silicone, both the mold and the manufactured part are less likely to break or splinter. You can use custom silicone molds to sculpt anything from complex technical components to ice cubes to holiday-themed candy.
stability
silicone resiststemperaturesfrom -65° to 400° degrees Celsius. Also, depending on the formulation, it can have an elongation of 700%. Extremely stable under a variety of conditions, you can put silicone molds in the oven, freeze them and stretch when you remove them.
durability
In most cases you will get many barrels from one silicone mold. However, it is important to note that the lifespan of the mold can vary widely. The more often you sculpt and the more complex or detailed your design is, the faster your form will deteriorate. To maximize the life of your silicone molds, clean with mild soap and water, dry well and store flat without stacking.
limitations
While there are many benefits to working with silicone, there are also some limitations to be aware of:
Silicone costs more than latex and organic rubbers. A quick comparison on Amazon reveals that a gallon of silicone typically costs $100, almost twice as much as latex.
Although flexible, silicone can tear if stretched too far.
Not all silicones are formulated equal. Always buy silicone and all manufacturing materials from a reputable supplier.
(Video) How to make custom SILICONE MOULDS (beginners guides)
Common uses for silicone molds
Hobbyists and professionals alike swear by silicone molds for their versatility and ease of use. Here are some examples of industries and applications that use silicone molds to manufacture their products:
develop prototype
Silicone molded parts are used in prototyping and product development across a wide range of industries. Since the cost of silicone molds is significantly lower than that of rigid tools used in traditional manufacturing processes such asinjection molding, Silicone Molding is ideal for prototyping product designs as well as creating beta units to test market and consumer response to a new product. While 3D printing is best for creating one-of-a-kind parts quickly, silicone casting and urethane casting can be ideal for smaller runs of parts.
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Schmuck
Jewelers use custom silicone molds to hand-carve or duplicate ones3D printed patternsin wax, eliminating the time-consuming work of creating carved wax patterns for each new piece and still being able to continue to cast in wax. This offers a major leap forward in serial production and enables large-scale investment casting. Because silicone molds capture a high level of detail, jewelers can create pieces with intricate detail and intricate geometries.
An RTV (room temperature vulcanized) silicone mold was molded around the 3D printed master.
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Molded from vulcanized rubber with 3D printed dies
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consumer goods
Creators use silicone molds to make many custom crafts like soaps and candles. Even manufacturers of school supplies often use silicone molds to shape items like chalk and erasers.
For example,crayon, a small company based in Australia, uses silicone molds to create crayons with fun shapes and great surface detail.
Ink Crayons Silikongeformte Wachsmalstifte. (image source)
to eat and drink
Food grade silicone molds are used to mold all kinds of fancy treats including chocolates, popsicles and lollipops. Since silicone can withstand temperatures of up to 400°C, the molds can also be used for cooking. Small baked goods like muffins and cupcakes thrive in silicone pans.
DIY Projects
Independent artists and DIY enthusiasts often use silicone molds to create one-of-a-kind creations. You can use silicone molds to sculpt or replicate anything from bath bombs to dog treats - the possibilities are almost endless. A fun silicone mold project for kids is to make a shape of life out of their hands. Just make sure you choose a skin-friendly silicone.
How to make the masters for molding in silicone
A pattern, sometimes called a master, is the part you use to create an accurate negative in your silicone mold. If you're simply trying to replicate an existing object, it can make sense to use that object as a pattern. You just have to make sure that the object can withstand the mold making process.
To create a new design or prototype, you must first make your pattern; You have several options for this. Here are some ways to create silicone mold patterns:
Carving: If you are a talented sculptor or are creating a relatively simple design, you can use clay to create a pattern. Carving a pattern is also a fun project for kids and an inexpensive option for DIYers.
Carving: You can make your pattern on wood. Carved masters of wood are an excellent choice for tile making and flat designs.
3D printing– Many professionals and commercial designers choose to 3D print patterns.Desktop 3D PrinterThey offer many advantages including design flexibility in CAD software, high accuracy, ease of prototyping and short delivery times.
Once you have a pattern you can start making your silicone mold.
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Introduction to silicone mold making.
Here's everything you need to build a simple silicone mold kit:
a master pattern
Flowable silicone, such as Smooth-On OOMOO
A non-porous box or container to hold the mold.
Trennmittel, wie z. B. Smooth-On Universal Release Agent
Wax, resin or other end use material
One-piece vs. two-piece silicone molds
Before you start creating your patterns, you need to determine what type(s) of patterns you want to create.
One-piece silicone molds are like ice cube trays. You fill the mold and then let the material harden. Just as an ice tray creates cubes with a flat top, one-piece molds work with designs that have a flat side. Also, if your master has deep undercuts, it will be more difficult to remove it and the finished parts from the mold once the silicone has cured without damage.
If this is not a problem for your project, a one-piece silicone mold is the ideal way to create a perfect 3D reproduction of your master on all other surfaces.
One-piece silicone molds are ideal for designs with a flat side and no deep cavities.
A two-part silicone mold works best to reproduce your 3D template without a flat side or with deep undercuts. The mold is split into two pieces that are snapped back together, creating a fillable 3D cavity (similar to injection molding).
Two-piece molds leave no flat surfaces and are easier to work with than one-block molds. The downside is that they're a bit more complex to create and seams can appear if the two pieces don't line up perfectly.
Two part silicone molds can replicate any master project. (image source)
How to make silicone molds
First you need to decide whether you want to use a one-piece or two-piece mold. The processes for making these molds are similar, but it takes a little longer to make a two-piece mold. You can use the step-by-step instructions below to make your own silicone molds.
one-piece silicone mold
Create your product master:This is the final design of the piece which will be replicated in a different material. When 3D printing on astereolithography (SLA) 3D printer,Use any standard resin with a layer height of 50 microns. Keep the detailed surface free of support marks. wash parts well with isopropyl alcohol; Any residual stickiness on the surface can affect the silicone molding process.
Build the shell mold:Coated MDF is a popular choice for building a silicone mold storage box, but a simple pre-made plastic container will also do. Use non-porous materials and a flat floor.
Place the master and apply the release agent:Start by lightly wetting the inside of the mold box with the release agent. Place the templates in the box with the detailed side up. Also spray them lightly with mold release agent. It takes about 10 minutes to dry completely.
Prepare the silicone:Mix the silicone rubber according to the package directions. You can use a vibrating device like a hand sander to remove air bubbles.
Pour the silicone into the mold shell:Gently pour the silicone rubber mixture into the perineum in a narrow stream. Aim for the lowest part of the box first (the base) and gradually work your way up the outline of your 3D printed pattern. Cover it with at least an inch of silicone. The curing process takes anywhere from an hour to a day, depending on the type and brand of silicone.
Demould the silicone:When curing is complete, remove the silicone from the holding box and remove the masters. This will serve as your mold in the form of an ice cube tray to shape your final product.
Do your part:Again, it's a good idea to lightly spray the silicone pan with a release agent and let it dry for 10 minutes. Pour end-use material (such as wax or concrete) into cavities and allow to set.
Prepare the mold for the following pour:You can use this silicone mold over and over again. Return to step seven to repeat the process.
Two-piece silicone mold
To create a two-part mold, first follow the first two steps above, which include creating a master and creating the mold shell. After that, follow this process to create a two-part shape:
arrange sound engineer:Use the clay to sculpt what will eventually be one half of your mold. The clay should be placed in the mold shell with your master half sticking out of the clay.
Prepare and pour your silicone:Follow the directions on the packaging that came with the silicone to prepare it and carefully pour the silicone into the mold tray over the clay and your patterns. This silicone layer will be half of your two-part mold.
Remove everything from the shell of the mold:After the first mold has cured, you need to remove the silicone mold, templates and clay from the mold shell. It's okay if the layers separate as you extract.
Clean the clay:Remove all of the clay to reveal your first silicone mold and master. Make sure your templates and existing shape are sparkling clean.
Place the form and templates back in the form tray:Place the existing silicone mold and templates (placed in the mold) back into the mold shell, facing up instead of down.
Apply release agent:Apply a thin layer of mold release agent to the existing silicone mold to facilitate demolding.
Prepare and pour the silicone for your second mold:Following the same instructions as before, prepare the silicone and pour into the mold tray to create your second mold.
Wait for the second mold to set:Allow sufficient time for the second mold to set before attempting to remove it from the mold box.
Demould your pieces:Remove the two silicone molds from the mold shell and carefully separate them.
A world of possibilities with silicone molding techniques
After all, there is no one right way to create products, be they food, figurines, or commercial components. Several production methods are often combined to achieve the best results; Understanding all of its unique advantages and disadvantages will help you make the best decisions for your project.
Would you like to learn more techniques and applications for making silicone molds? Download ourSilicone molds for product designWhite paper.
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