this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2025
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Making a press mold, need some input (self.3dprinting)
submitted 2 weeks ago by ICastFist to c/[email protected]
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Pics https://ibb.co/album/sbjqwT (the weird triangle on the lower piece was fixed afterwards)

I've been messing around with a press mold so I can make hex tiles using paper mache, or something else that is easily and cheaply available.

The problem I've been having is with the sides, which rarely get properly pressed. What should I do to possibly fix this, regarding the model?

Right now, I've only experimented with minced paper and water, which led to satisfying results. What other things could I add or try for this kind of press? What could I apply on the mold to make the paper less likely to stick? Vaseline doesn't make a difference.

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[–] ICastFist 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

With a 2 part mold, you do some holes for the water on what will be the back side of your tile and you should be good.

I made 3 part because I need some details on what will be the top of the piece, little seams to show the separation of each hex, as well as the thinner walls on the bottom. I did try 2 part molds before, but getting it off the mold was near impossible most of the time. Like this, I can just push the piece off. Currently, only the presser has holes for the water, should I add it to the bottom piece, too?

The thick walls are to endure the pressure and reduce warping, though maybe they could be thinner? I tested adding some gypsum to the mixture, waiting for one piece to dry further and already figured that I have to remove from the mold before it hardens too much, otherwise it'll end up stuck (that or I have to properly sand/fill the pieces like bluewing said above)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

I made 3 part because I need some details on what will be the top of the piece, little seams to show the separation of each hex, as well as the thinner walls on the bottom. I did try 2 part molds before, but getting it off the mold was near impossible most of the time. Like this, I can just push the piece off.

Got it. I did't consider the extraction.

Currently, only the presser has holes for the water, should I add it to the bottom piece, too?

Not if it work well.

The thick walls are to endure the pressure and reduce warping, though maybe they could be thinner? I tested adding some gypsum to the mixture, waiting for one piece to dry further and already figured that I have to remove from the mold before it hardens too much, otherwise it’ll end up stuck (that or I have to properly sand/fill the pieces like bluewing said above)

If they endure the pressure they are ok. I would have done them thicker but just to be sure.

For the gypsym it seems strange, every time that I did something with it I had no problem to remove from the mold, expecially if it was made with some sort of plastic. Probably more than the pieces you need to sand the mold to have smooth surfaces, so that the gypsum does not adhere to it.