Silicone Molding & Major Project Start

Rich McCue

rmccue@uvic.ca

McPherson Library A318c

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MakeAnything.opened.ca

RichMcCue.com

Topic 7

1PM - 4PM

Outline for Today

• Class Check-in & Q&A (10 min)
• Use cases for silicone moulds
• Review safety & key concepts.
• Hands on: Make a silicone mould of signet ring (60 min)
• Break time (10 min)
• Hands on: Work on on other projects, or prepare for IoT next class (60 min)
• Blog Critical Reflection on today’s topic (20 min)

I’m Thankful For…

Any Questions from Last Class?

Use Cases for Silicone Moulds

Resin Crafts and Jewelry

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/column-silicon-resin-mold-pendant-resin-mould-jewellery-etsy-in-2022--194569646393595042/

Casting Figurines & Statues

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/293010076685

Candles and Soap Making

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003733737797.html

Food and Baking Creations

https://www.fruugo.ca/cake-mould-chocolate-making-molds-baking-mould-baking-accessories-silicone-mould-chocolate-candy-mold-for-browniesbreads-pan-pie-sandwich-cakes/p-177084688-378279342

Concrete or Plaster Crafts

https://madmolds.com/blogs/news/make-valuable-concrete-items-using-silicone-molds

Special Effects and Cosplay

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/628674429212531643/

Industrial Parts & Components

https://hackaday.com/2021/08/26/making-high-quality-copies-of-existing-parts-using-a-silicone-mold/

Silicone Moulding:

Key Skills & Safety

Moulding Skills

• Model Preparation: Clean the model to remove any dust, dirt, or imperfections that could be transferred to the mold.
• Mold Box Construction: Constructing a mold box ( or container) around the model is necessary to contain the silicone during the casting process.
• Mixing Silicone: Follow the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that it's properly mixed to avoid air bubbles.
• Pouring Technique: Properly pouring the mixed silicone into the mold box is important to avoid trapping air bubbles.
• Dealing with Undercuts: Understanding how to deal with undercuts (protruding shapes that can trap the mold) is crucial for successful demolding.
• Demolding: Removing the cured silicone mold from the model �requires care and precision to avoid damaging the mold or the �original model.

Silicone Moulding Safety

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Always wear appropriate PPE, including gloves and safety glasses, to protect your skin and eyes.
• Ventilation: Work in a well-ventilated area or use a respirator.
• Skin Contact: Avoid direct skin contact with uncured silicone. Wearing gloves is recommended.
• Eye Protection: Wear safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from any accidental splashes or spills.
• Food-Safe Considerations: If you're creating molds for food or items that will come into contact with the body, ensure that you're using food-grade or body-safe silicone materials.

Make a Silicone Mould of Your Ring (60 min)

Break Time

(10 min)

Critical Reflection

Blog about the following (including one or more pictures and/or videos):

1. Your experience making your silicone mould
2. Can you think of any ways that the other prototyping tools we’ve already learned about (laser cutter & 3D printer) could be used in conjunction with silicone moulds?
3. Continue brainstorming ideas for your major project (no decision on your final project need to be made at this time, and you may decide to do something else later in the course)

Workshop Badges

If you’d like to earn a DSC badge, email screenshots or photos of 3 projects to dscommons@uvic.ca

Hands on Lab Time:

Topic 7 on class website