Easy small moulds?

General Composites Discussions Products Talk
#1

Wonder if anyone ever used any sort of plastic material, which becomes liquid when heated, and seems ideal for making cheap and quick small moulds?
I
ts marketed here in the UK as “Vinatex”, and can be remelted and used again if you need to make different mould.

#2

definately sounds like a good alternative.

So I guess you would melt this stuff and then pour it over the part?

#3

i’d imagine any plastics vacuum forming setup would be ideal for something of this nature

#4

Yes and the use of PE or PP thermoformable sheet plastics…

#5

Vac forming would certainly work, but does seem to make the process of making a cheap mould quickly and easily, a bit more involved ?

Seems to me that just heating some material, and when it becomes liquid pouring it over a properly prepared plug couldnt be easier, and as the moulding material is plastic would probably be self releasing.

#6

I’ve seen inexpensive, homemade vac forming machines (the show mythbusters comes to mind)

#7

Tutorials on building your own vacuum forming setup.
http://www.studiocreations.com/howto/stormtrooper/index.html

http://www.tk560.com/stormtrooper.html

#8

Got a book about making a home vac forming machine, and its certainly not that difficult or costly!

But not sure if it can compare with merely pouring liquid plastic, over a properly prepared plug?

#9

looked into vinamold for my small mould requirements however even the toughest yellow grade is way too flexible to pull a full vacuum. It is made more for clear casting resin figurines etc etc.

I hate all the conventional work ie gelcoat, chopped strand & time taken to layup a small mould and have done a LOT of testing with other methods. I am testing some polyurethane fast cast systems at the moment on small moulds which looks very promising.

Shore hardness of around 84d should be nice and rigid 1:1 mix ratio so easy there, no degassing just build a small box around the plug and pour. Demould in 2 hours job done!! :slight_smile:

will post the results of latest test :slight_smile:

#10

Chopped strand SUCKS! That alone would make anyone hate composites. Use some veil, a couple light plies, then the heavier woven stuff. Molds don’t have to be so complicated to make.