Need advices from garage kits makers

Good Duck wrote:

Thanks, I'll check out Silpak. I'm using CAD program Rhino 4.0 right. Just got the seat around 4~6 wks ago, Learning  curve is low, unlike Autodesk Inventor. I test drive it and earning curve is very high, and cost ten x as much.

I'm using Rhino, too. Very good program, and relatively easy, although I still have a lot to learn. 

I was talking about vinyl garage kits. I was at factory that produced screamin model kits and watched them cast and demold. They are metal molds. When the plastic is liquid they pour in metal molds. When they remove the plastic from molds it is soft,very hot and stretches out of mold and has to be cooled with water usually a hose on demolding table. Then the vinyl returns to shape of peice casted. I have never heard of rubber molds for vinyl kits .Should you find any information regarding that please share with us.

resinman, I think you are talking about vinyl toys and not vinyl garage kits that I asking about. I know steel mold can cast 50,000 or more runs. Vinyl garage kits that I asking about only product in very low # like maybe 500 runs. Steel mold models have parting lines, but vinyl garage kit don't. So I'm thinking must be rubber molds. I just want to know what materials and how they removed the casting with out cutting the mold. All I can find in utube are resin casting , and no vinyl.

Thanks, I'll check out Silpak.

I'm using CAD program Rhino 4.0 right. Just got the seat around 4~6 wks ago, Learning  curve is low, unlike Autodesk Inventor. I test drive it and earning curve is very high, and cost ten x as much.

Vinyl casting is very expensive and done with metal molds. This is usually done in a factory and not recommended for beginners unless you have the resources and cash to invest. I suggest polyurethene plastic(resin) and silicone molds. You can find tuturials online videos or take molding and casting classes at various art stores. Be forwarned its a messy job coupled with dealing with chemicals that may have allergic reactions or adverse health affects if you do not properly protect yourself when working . With that being said I recommend a 50/50 mix resin(ie. smooth-on 300 is the most common) and GI1000 silicone made by silicones inc.These companies both have websites and can be easily found on the google .

Greetings-

 I have done 3D, RTV mold makingand resin casting, but I have never cast vinyl.

I would recommend that you contact Dan over at Silpak, Inc. They're in California. I just met this guy and I do believe he knows everything there is to know about materials casting.

 Tel: 818-985-8850, Web: www.silpak.com

By the way, may I ask what program you are using for your 3D drawings? Just curious.

Regards-