Help creating a mold from an existing model

[TuttleJA]

HI, First time user. I have a completed part and I would like to use it to create a mold. Can that be easily done in FreeCAD? If so, how?

[chrisb]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

It can well be done and there are hundreds of topics in the forum about converting an STL into a solid. Maybe even thousands.

[TuttleJA]

Thank you for replying. Isn't this already a solid? (I would have uploaded the FreeCAD file, but they said the file was too big.) So, here's a screenshot.

[TuttleJA]

This shows some of the detail better..... The 'S' and the lettering are raised.

[chrisb]

The mesh is not a solid, it's onla a, well, mesh made of points and lines. This can be interpreted as a solid, but it isn't one.

[TuttleJA]

Thank you, I'll look into that....

[papyblaise]

if you have the complete Fc file, you place a part on top and you do a boolean subtraction

[TuttleJA]

Yes, I have a Fc file of the part. What you said sounds like very useful information. I'll try it (as soon as I learn how it's done). Thank you.

[domad]

.....

Hi TuttleJA
This is the result of solidification

[TuttleJA]

Hi domad, That's very nice... Maybe some day I'll learn how to add color... Right now, what I need is a negative mirror image so I can 3-d print a mold of the part. Then I plan to use the mold to make rubber parts that look identical to the part you made solid and colorful. Using Boolean, I think I was able to made the part solid and then get the negative/mirror effect, but it's on the wrong side of the mat.