3d printed molds

[FrostD]

Sorry I missed this, enjoy the journey!

You need two things. A model. This can come from Thingiverse OR one you make yourself. Tinkercad is very basic, but very powerful. I love Sketchup for technical things. Fusion360 is the end-all app and they used to have a 'hobbyist' version for free. If you get into model building, it's very powerful, but very time consuming to learn.

Next, you need to slice the model into a gcode text file to feed your printer. This will take the model and the settings of your printer and make slices and code the printer can follow. Filament temperature, bed temperature, fill for the inside, how thick the walls need to be, etc.. I love Slic3r but I just saw a video earlier about Prusa Slic3r which is an offshoot and seems to be upgraded more. They're both Free. Cura is another program that slices.

Feel free to shoot over any questions, I was heavy into 3D printing and CNC a long time ago but let the printers sit for a few years. Just a few weeks ago I got them back up and running and it's all coming back to me.

@mjohn I think I'm going to try to set it up early next week with my kiddo. Schedule is a little busy over the weekend. My son picked out a few "test" designs to try out and I now have a handful of things to try as well. My buddy says to start on small items to get the jist and work out an kinks on the printer. Makes sense...

As far as programs I've tried out, I have perused the Thingiverse website and have found items in the .STL format. I downloaded them and was able to pull up those files in Tinkercad. I haven't played around too much on Tinkercad, but does look like a powerful program as you mentioned @mjohn . From there a slicer program to convert to gcode it appears. I've heard of Cura, but not the others you mentioned. Is there a good "starter" one?

I'm sure I'll have more questions! I appreciate the tips! The more I dip my toe in the water, the further it goes in. Time to jump in!

 

[webmost]

Mak's mold is still my very fave. Super super handy.

 

[FrostD]

Mak's mold is still my very fave. Super super handy.

I've seen the pictures and they look efficient and a nice size. I do like that they are wood too! It doesn't appear they are available out there anymore. Need to improvise here and hopefully print up some smaller molds.

Side note: I've tried quite a few methods so far, molds are nice, but there is something about using newspaper to wrap and clothes pin to secure, that seems to add an extra level of fun to it. Not to mention it has always seemed to make some "oh i hope this turns out" to a nice solid stick!

 

[FrostD]

Test print time! Only predicament at the moment is having a device that can run Cura to slice. Need to be able convert the .stl files to gcode. Then to toss the gcode files onto the sdcard. Temporary delay and should be solved soon, but working out the first run kinks and getting the jist. Handy little sun of a gun! Does take time though. Patience needed outside the kiddo and myself hovering to see the quality. Placement of the printer may need to be adjusted. Sounds like R2D2 roaming around. Lol.

 

[leverhead]

That is just too cool!

 

[Knucklehead]

Test print time! Only predicament at the moment is having a device that can run Cura to slice. Need to be able convert the .stl files to gcode. Then to toss the gcode files onto the sdcard. Temporary delay and should be solved soon, but working out the first run kinks and getting the jist. Handy little sun of a gun! Does take time though. Patience needed outside the kiddo and myself hovering to see the quality. Placement of the printer may need to be adjusted. Sounds like R2D2 roaming around. Lol.

That is just too cool!

Keep that away from leverhead. He’s our resident “let’s take an Old Timer pocket knife and put a two stroke dirt bike engine on it.” Unless you just happen to have an old Kawasaki laying around. And a 3D printer you don’t need.

 

[FrostD]

Keep that away from leverhead. He’s our resident “let’s take an Old Timer pocket knife and put a two stroke dirt bike engine on it.” Unless you just happen to have an old Kawasaki laying around. And a 3D printer you don’t need.

"MORE POWER"!!!! That would be something to see!

 

[Gabeb123]

I thought I would share the mold I just printed. I just used plans off of Thingiverse. It is a little loose so I may print another top piece and scale it up one or two percent. Other than that I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

 

[FrostD]

I thought I would share the mold I just printed. I just used plans off of Thingiverse. It is a little loose so I may print another top piece and scale it up one or two percent. Other than that I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

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Outstanding! Looks good. Does it feel structurally sound for clamps?

 

[Gabeb123]

Outstanding! Looks good. Does it feel structurally sound for clamps?

It feels really solid to me. I printed it with 60% infill which was probably overkill.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Bravo!

 

[Gabeb123]

Yesterday I tried to make my own mold design based on the mold Deluxestogie shared on page one of this thread. I'm happy with how the bottom turned out but the top needs to be redesigned a bit. Only time will tell how the threads hold up.

 

[deluxestogie]

That's looking promising. Here's my entire set of images of that mold.

Bob

 

[FrostD]

Yesterday I tried to make my own mold design based on the mold Deluxestogie shared on page one of this thread. I'm happy with how the bottom turned out but the top needs to be redesigned a bit. Only time will tell how the threads hold up.
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Right on! Looks good!

 

[FrostD]

First mold print I wanted to try out was the single “pig” mold on thingiverse. Each side was about 2 hours. Not too bad timing while on calls for work.

 

[Yultanman]

Yesterday I tried to make my own mold design based on the mold Deluxestogie shared on page one of this thread. I'm happy with how the bottom turned out but the top needs to be redesigned a bit. Only time will tell how the threads hold up.
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Im crossing my fingers the design will be shared when you get it fine tuned.
Nice work!!!!

 

[leverhead]

What modeling software do you use and what is the fill material?

 

[Gabeb123]

What modeling software do you use and what is the fill material?

I'm just using Tinkercad. I'm sure there are better programs but it's free and it's all I have used so far. I have only had my 3d printer for a few weeks.

I am using PLA for the material.

 

[leverhead]

I'll have to check out Tinkercad, see what it can do. I've been using AutoCad since the 80's, it's gotten to be second nature. The whole process of putting material where you want it is foreign to me.

 

[Gabeb123]

I finished tweaking the design. The top part fits tighter and makes a more perfect circle. The last one I printed would have made a oval shaped cigar.

If I were to make any changes in the future I would maybe make the top parts of the cavity .5mm wider because there is about a 1mm gap but I think it should work fine. I didn't want to make it too tight.

Also the bolts could be larger but I wasn't confident on my ability to size up the female threads accurately.

3D design 44 cigar mold complete w/bolt - Tinkercad

3D design 44 cigar mold complete w/bolt created by gabeb123 with Tinkercad

www.tinkercad.com