Jim,
Not quite, although that is also possible and we have done just what you
describe (make the Actua mold to make the mold that molds the molded parts
<follow that?!>). Ok, back to what I published on the rp-ml. What we
primarily do is to print a wax mold that is used to cast the parts directly.
One time shot, and then the mold is destroyed into a pile of rubble or gooey
liquid. Either way, one time deal.
Good enough, good luck, good bye have a good 4th of July,
...eDerek
____________________________________
E. Derek Smith
Technology Scout
3DP Program Manager
Motorola
Communications Enterprise (P2TC)
8000 West Sunrise Blvd., Room 4J9
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33322
954-723-4790 (Phone)
954-723-4934 (Fax)
eds014@email.mot.com
____________________________________
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Burt [mailto:jim.burt@infocus.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 4:43 PM
> To: Smith Derek-EDS014
> Subject: RE: Elastomer for buttons
>
>
> eD, I may not follow you. Let me take a shot at what I think
> you said. Are
> you using the wax ThermoJet part as the pattern to create the
> RTV mold? Then
> melting it out to create the void into which the prototype material is
> poured? Similar to an investment casting?
>
> Jim Burt
> Mgr. Prod. Des. Serv.
> R&D Engineering
>
> InFocus Systems, Inc.
> 27700B SW Parkway Ave.
> Wilsonville, OR 97070
>
> VOX 503.685.8543
> FAX 503.685.8544
> jim.burt@infocus.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Smith Derek-EDS014
> [mailto:Derek_Smith-EDS014@email.mot.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 12:20 PM
> To: 'Ian Gibson'; rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi
> Subject: RE: Elastomer for buttons
>
> Ian,
>
> Ok, I'm finally going through my old RP mail, and this may be
> way out of
> date, but here goes anyway.
>
> We often use the RTV silicones for this type of application. Many of
> Motorola's products have keypads and other tactile buttons which are
> elastomeric. While we will create an aluminum mold for making
> many of these
> prototypes at a "fairly" rapid rate (1 every 10 minutes or so with
> accelerated curing via temperature), usually the engineer in Product
> Development only requires 3 or 4 to evaluate a concept.
>
> The perfect solution for this situation is to use the Actua -
> oops, I mean
> ThermoJet - to make a wax tool. We usually just mix the RTV, degas it,
> selectively place it onto the mold halves, degas some more,
> then close up
> the mold. Alignment features are printed into the two halves,
> and small
> vents allow the excess RTV to "squeeze" out prior to cure. A
> substantial
> weight (such as a steel mold insert blank) is perfect for
> pushing the two
> halves together without crushing the wax inserts. The weight
> is left on the
> assembled mold, and left for the following day, allowing the
> RTV to cure at
> room temperature (hence, Room Temperature Vulcanized).
>
> In the morning, a hammer or heat gun is used to break or melt away the
> "Investment Mold", resulting in very nice, detailed
> elastomeric parts. We
> actually run one of our Actua's exclusively for this
> application, the demand
> for which is actually larger than the need for concept models.
>
> I've presented this application in the past at Georgia Tech
> and a couple of
> other venues. We have been doing this since day one of the
> Beta program, and
> have no current plans to stop. It works substantially better
> than an SLA
> mold as there is no cleaning necessary. We don't even use
> mold release. We
> have since developed the ability to do undercuts, and have taken this
> concept further, but I think your question has been answered,
> so I'll stop
> there.
>
> Cheers,
>
> ...eDerek
>
> ____________________________________
>
> E. Derek Smith
> Technology Scout
> 3DP Program Manager
>
> Motorola
> Communications Enterprise (P2TC)
> 8000 West Sunrise Blvd., Room 4J9
> Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33322
>
> 954-723-4790 (Phone)
> 954-723-4934 (Fax)
> eds014@email.mot.com
> ____________________________________
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ian Gibson [mailto:igibson@hkucc.hku.hk]
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 8:43 PM
> > To: rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi
> > Subject: Elastomer for buttons
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi rp-ml
> >
> > Has anyone used any of the elastomeric materials to fabricate
> > soft-feel
> > buttons for electronic appliances (calculators, computer
> > games, etc.)? Does
> > it work? I have an application where I need to make some
> > buttons that are
> > unusual shapes and want to know the best way to do it.
> >
> > IG
> >
> >
> > Dr. Ian Gibson
> > Associate Professor
> > Department of Mechanical Engineering
> > The University of Hong Kong
> > tel: (852) 28597901
> > fax: (852) 28585415
> > igibson@hkucc.hku.hk
> >
> > Still crazy after all these years - Paul Simon
> >
> > For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
> >
>
> For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
>
For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
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