Help creating a mold from an existing model

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TuttleJA
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2021 11:02 am

Help creating a mold from an existing model

Post by 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?
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mat-n-logo-3.stl
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chrisb
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Re: Help creating a mold from an existing model

Post by 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.
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TuttleJA
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Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2021 11:02 am

Re: Help creating a mold from an existing model

Post by 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.
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mat-n-logo-3.jpg
mat-n-logo-3.jpg (160.27 KiB) Viewed 1682 times
TuttleJA
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Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2021 11:02 am

Re: Help creating a mold from an existing model

Post by TuttleJA »

This shows some of the detail better..... The 'S' and the lettering are raised.
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mat-n-logo-3a.jpg
mat-n-logo-3a.jpg (104.24 KiB) Viewed 1675 times
chrisb
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Re: Help creating a mold from an existing model

Post by 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.
A Sketcher Lecture with in-depth information is available in English, auf Deutsch, en français, en español.
TuttleJA
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Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2021 11:02 am

Re: Help creating a mold from an existing model

Post by TuttleJA »

Thank you, I'll look into that....
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papyblaise
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Re: Help creating a mold from an existing model

Post by papyblaise »

if you have the complete Fc file, you place a part on top and you do a boolean subtraction
TuttleJA
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Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2021 11:02 am

Re: Help creating a mold from an existing model

Post by 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
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Re: Help creating a mold from an existing model

Post by domad »

TuttleJA wrote: Mon Aug 30, 2021 3:12 pm .....
Hi TuttleJA
This is the result of solidification
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solidification1.png
solidification1.png (204.89 KiB) Viewed 1572 times
solidification2.png
solidification2.png (323.12 KiB) Viewed 1572 times
TuttleJA
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2021 11:02 am

Re: Help creating a mold from an existing model

Post by 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.
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negative-mirror.jpg
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