Custom molds?

[J.Guest]

Does anyone have a company they recommend for making custom cast or moldings. I have an idea for a creature bait that I believe will produce very well. I just need to have a molding built to spec.

[Jig Man]

Try here  http://www.cncmolds.com

[12poundbass]

$$$$$$ 6-8 times the cost of a production mold? Ouch!

[J.Guest]

Thank you Jigman. This will be well worth the investment!

[Munkin]

9 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

$$$$$$ 6-8 times the cost of a production mold? Ouch!

That is the going rate right now. I got a quote for a production mold for $5600 so I know what things cost for large scale production.

 

Allen

[Chance_Taker4]

Bait Junkys will do it for $650. https://www.baitjunkys.com/Custom-Mold-Design_c_168.html

[WRB]

You can make a hand pour silicone mold for soft plastics to make prototypes. If the design is complicated with thin legs, flappers or claws then a hand operated aluminum CNC mold is a better choice. Do-It molds makes blank molds and custom molds. Any good local machinist can make you a prototype mold using a Do-It blank soft plastic hand injection mold.

Tom

[MassYak85]

I have no experience with it but have thought about trying it at some point, but what about 3D printing the mold? Obviously going to be less durable than getting one CNC'ed but if you are just testing a design I don't see why not.

[Uncle Arnie]

6 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I have no experience with it but have thought about trying it at some point, but what about 3D printing the mold? Obviously going to be less durable than getting one CNC'ed but if you are just testing a design I don't see why not.

 

I have shot hundreds and hundreds of worms and grubs through SLA printed molds. SLA doesn't use infill or supports, and wont crack like typical ABS material FDM prints. I typically don't see cracks above 25% infill on FDM either.

 

Here is some info on the resin for others out there.

https://support.formlabs.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000015670-Using-Tough-Resin

 

Sure it has a 30th of the modulus of aluminum - but if you are hand injecting I cant see building enough pressure to matter.

 

 

 

 

[yosef]

I’m a CNC programmer/machinist ...depending on the features of the mold and tolerancing and material you want it will vary ...do you have a cad model of the mold you want to make ? You’re best bet is to go around to small machine shops with a cad model/ drawing and ask them what it would cost to make most shops run from 60-120 an hour 

[WRB]

To make a 3D SLA mold you 1st need a digital 3D computer model, that program can be used to machine a mold. Unless you own a SLA machine and have the skills to make 3D computer program,  it's not free to make a model.

Tom