Rubber Casting repro parts.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by mikem

New member here. I have done lots of rubber molding etc. The molds must be made out of steel or aluminum with thick wall to withsatnd the molding pressure and heat.
Real rubber usually outlasts urethane rubber.

Welcome to the 'barn, -and thank you for your response.

What I am doing is making small runs for one-off pieces where we cast pieces in polyurethane rubber that sets around 70 to 80 range (depending on application). Several years ago (i.e.: 8-10??) a friend of mine helped me cast some hood bumpers for a 1958 Buick Roadmaster that I could not find. Those were cast using an epoxy mould that we made using a hood bumper as a sample. To this day, the cast pieces have held up well. Since then, we have cast several other small pieces, but unfortunately my friend is no longer with us. Additionally, I am sure the casting technology has improved somewhat, and I was hoping I could speak with someone who actually does casting frequently enough to know what the latest technology was. I appreciate your thoughts though.

Originally Posted by TomInCologne

Maybe it‘s worth having a look at 3d-printing? In our company we are manufacturing more and more parts on our own 3d printers. They are cheap enough to just get one and try it and there‘s loads of material to try out, including carbon fibre strenghend materials.

If you need some assistance with preparing 3d-files, just contact me.

We have a small 3D printer inhouse that we do use make fixtures, tooling, or moulds, and I have debated using the printer for two items I am going to cast where a two-piece mould will be required. Mostly what we use is PLA and PETG filiment. As for modeling, we presently are using Fusion inhouse. We got our start with SolidWorks but the seats have become too expensive to justify the costs.

[TomInCologne]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

We have a small 3D printer inhouse that we do use make fixtures, tooling, or moulds, and I have debated using the printer for two items I am going to cast where a two-piece mould will be required. Mostly what we use is PLA and PETG filiment. As for modeling, we presently are using Fusion inhouse. We got our start with SolidWorks but the seats have become too expensive to justify the costs.

Okay, so you already have that experience. I am printing several parts for my A, last one was a trim ring for my dash panel to put a 1.28" round Display in instead of the amp-meter. The Touch-Display will show Current, Voltage, Time or rpm.


We are using Inventor, as an engineering company we have no choice...

[mikem]

Brent
Could you post a picture of one of the items your looking at making ?