not bad the first final result I thought worse

Hello everyone lately I'm venturing into the creation of silicone rubber molds to use with the resins,
all this to make the puzzles more accessible to collectors;
the only problem is that I can not deal with them
is there anyone who has had the same problem of misalignment?

Materials:
silicon al10
polyurethane
anilines
waxy release

it is possible to create a mold divided into two halves with a hole for the air and one for flow?
I think is a better solution.

Thank you
Rafael

I've never had so much misalignment that the pieces are unusable. Your case looks pretty bad, though.

The molds seem to have sufficient alignment pins. I'm not really sure what is causing the problem. In the past, the walls between the pieces in my mold were too thin, but I'm pretty sure that's not the reason for your misalignment either.

Does it happen every time you cast?

I think this method was pioneered by Drewseph and I find it far better than any other. Misalignments can be the result of-

1. Squeezing / distorting the first half of the mould when making the 2nd half.
2. Untidy alignment pins which don't fit snugly together.
3. Pushing the moulds too firmly together when casting.
4. Filling the first half with too much resin and allowing it to set too much.
5. Worn and old moulds.

Oh, and I usually cut a few tiny channels so the excess resin can get away better,

A HUGE problem is that the resin will fill into the giant alignment holes and "prop up" the second half, creating slightly enlarged / misaligned pieces. So I'd say make those rubber pins a bit smaller (cut them so they stick out less), or add some places for the resin to flow out on the sides of the mold / in the alignment holes.

hello,
I have tested only once, tomorrow i'll try again;
Thank you.



Hello,
in your list there are almost all my mistakes ,

1)done;
2)i've uploaded a photo I don't see the dividing line the closure between the two halves is perfect;
3)done;
4)done; (because the resin had marked (non linear shrinkage) in the first half I did it to cure fully)
5)the first cast in new mold.
Oh), Perfect

My approach was as if Michelangelo had tried to carve the David with a club, thank you



hello
seems a good and possible explanation of the problem, I will try with well made drainage canals and other small devices, thanks.

Thanks to everyone for the advice tomorrow I will see what I can combine.
best regrads
Rafael

P.S. will not be too soft rubber I use? or is it perfect?

Hello all,
i have finally founded time to cast the pieces, it's funny
each shot, I become more proficient, I used the drain gutters, etc. I have not pressed the mold.
Many thanks to all for the advices.
Best Regards
Rafael

P.S i will post reply in "make and sell puzzles shorten life?" tomorrow.

Hello everyone, below a photo of the puzzle in almost complete conditions, what do you think is acceptable? only needs a little piece over the central cap and stickers, I'll show you photos of the final result soon;
Best regards
Rafael

Looks good to me. If you make nice accurately cut stickers for it then it will be great.

Hello Mr. Fisher,
I will cut the stickers in the best possible way, However, being my first time I "play" with the resins, I think that as soon as I see it finished I will be able to judge my work, actually I don't like the puzzle for the simple fact that I don't find it perfect as those that i do handmade, but patience, my first work done by hand were very far from that first job, thanks again for the advice.
Best regards
Rafael

I'm really disappointed and tired I did not think I had to learn all at once, the photograph shows a strange reaction that happens after a few hours after that I have applied the stickers, pretty much the glue of 'adhesive becomes thick, and the bottom of the same patch of black everything is accompanied by a huge air bubble or something, no problem for a few small imperfections but these are too obvious...

any advice on how to fix this?

My black resin does that sometimes, but never that badly. I have two questions before I can give a definite answer:

• What resin are you using?
• Did you color or paint it with something before stickering? There is a possibility the adhesive could be reacting with something.

Before I get the answers, the best remedy that I can prescribe is to simply wait. Wait another few weeks before applying the stickers.

Please don't get discouraged. Casting can be problematic, but with time you will get better at it. If you continue to have problems with this black resin, you could always try Smoothcast 300! (though it's white)

Chandler

This is still an unsolved problem. We have a nice thread (here) with the latest thinking on the matter, but those of us with experience tend to just wait a *long* time before stickering.

How long?

We don't know yet. We're still waiting.

Dave

Hello and thank you both,
the last piece was casted on 10 august, the material that i used were polyurethane resin, i have mixed in polyol (component A) a 1% of aniline (to fat) black as explained in the instructions;
it is normal that discouraged me, but i like too much print I will not stop, means that I will devote myself (while I wait) to some incomplete handmade puzzles;

of course, I will change resin for the next print, ill' take a certain "Prochima" hardening in 5-10 minutes, white, mixing ratio 1:1, seems smoothcast under another name ;

while polyurethane resin is mixing ratio 1:1 by weight, hardness 15-30 min, sand color;

Add. with 1 KG of resin I was able to print almost 3 2x3x3 F puzzles;

many thanks for the link, I will continue learn tips to put an end to mistakes and above all, I will dedicate myself to draw the matrices to be printed by any company to obtain puzzles perfect in shape;

2 questions:

What is the best material for matrices for sale on shapeways?

Off topic
I need some Megaminx not too expensive do not jam, jump, block and haven't problems consumption of the screw seat; some names? (for Msminx)

Thank you both again
Best regards
Rafael

The Meffert Megaminx is probably best. Back when it was out of stock I built my Kilominx from the PVC minx. You can find that here.

Dave