3d Printing Molds

[Ginglehopper]

Has anyone printed molds? If so, is it easy and worth it for mass producing parts?

 

[Exc3l]

@LibertyMKiii does this for custom bodies. It depends on the material you use and how much profit you will make of it.

 

[LibertyMKiii]

What would you be forming in the mold?

This is my process for making a fiberglass body or carbon fiber body:
1. 3d print the shape which generally costs me about $44 in PLA filament.
2. Mount to a piece of wood and to each other with BSI CA Glue.
3. Sanding plastic, then Primer, body filler, and sanding till its perfect.
4. Mold release wax and PVA
5. Gelcoat (without wax)
6. Fiberglass (chopped strand mat) + fiberglass resin
8. Pull mold from positive and begin cleanup, touchups, sanding and polishing.
9. Wax mold and apply PVA.
10. Layup for carbon fiber or fiberglass to produce final product.
11. Pull from mold and repeat steps mentioned in step #8

Rough cost estimates:
$44 PLA
$15 wood
$14 primer
$18 body filler
$15 sand paper
$40 Gelcoat
$60 Fiberglass chopped strand mat and resin
$x mold release wax and pva
$x carbon fiber twill
$x epoxy resin

I have found that it is extremely labor intensive and not an ideal "thing" for mass selling but maybe you will have a better time with it than I have.
I also invested in vacuum bagging materials which only caused more problems and lost money.

 

[Exc3l]

That's why I tagged him!

 

[Ginglehopper]

What would you be forming in the mold?

This is my process for making a fiberglass body or carbon fiber body:
1. 3d print the shape which generally costs me about $44 in PLA filament.
2. Mount to a piece of wood and to each other with BSI CA Glue.
3. Sanding plastic, then Primer, body filler, and sanding till its perfect.
4. Mold release wax and PVA
5. Gelcoat (without wax)
6. Fiberglass (chopped strand mat) + fiberglass resin
8. Pull mold from positive and begin cleanup, touchups, sanding and polishing.
9. Wax mold and apply PVA.
10. Layup for carbon fiber or fiberglass to produce final product.
11. Pull from mold and repeat steps mentioned in step #8

Rough cost estimates:
$44 PLA
$15 wood
$14 primer
$18 body filler
$15 sand paper
$40 Gelcoat
$60 Fiberglass chopped strand mat and resin
$x mold release wax and pva
$x carbon fiber twill
$x epoxy resin

I have found that it is extremely labor intensive and not an ideal "thing" for mass selling but maybe you will have a better time with it than I have.
I also invested in vacuum bagging materials which only caused more problems and lost money.

I thought it would be easier and less expensive, lol. In the long run it might, but... for now, I think i'll stick with printing.

I was planning on using petg or something maybe carbon fiber to make the mold, and pla to fill it. I'm not making bodies though.

Thanks for the info though! It'll be nice if I ever do make molds.

 

[LibertyMKiii]

I thought it would be easier and less expensive, lol. In the long run it might, but... for now, I think i'll stick with printing.

I was planning on using petg or something maybe carbon fiber to make the mold, and pla to fill it. I'm not making bodies though.

Thanks for the info though! It'll be nice if I ever do make molds.

There are ways to go direct from the print to a mold. My printer isn't dialed in the best and I need the part to be ultra smooth for the body.
Something like this may work for you and be considerably more simple:

 

[Ginglehopper]

There are ways to go direct from the print to a mold. My printer isn't dialed in the best and I need the part to be ultra smooth for the body.
Something like this may work for you and be considerably more simple:

Okay, I'll look into it. Thanks again!

 

[TheDude]

making molds question cool beans been thinking of that myself but making actual part and using quick crete or some plaster of paris to make the mold then melting aluminum to pour in mold for parts

 

[LudeNation]

Has anyone printed molds? If so, is it easy and worth it for mass producing parts?

Easy yes, not worth it unless it's a resin printer or have a super high quality profile and epoxy the inside. The epoxy will keep the layer lines out of the casting. Mass production I would say no. Look up some molding/casting videos online and there are better DIY options that are suitable for mass production at a reasonable price. Hope this helps