The silicone mold box is printed formwork around the model. You pour silicone into it, and the cured block becomes the mold. The model stands on a base, so the mold comes off through the opening at the bottom — no cutting needed.
- 1Formwork parts, 2–4 of them
- 2Base with the model: the model is printed together with the plate
At a glance
| What | How |
|---|---|
| Good for | A figurine, candle, relief panel — anything that stands on a base |
| What to print | Formwork parts, the base with the model, clamps |
| Formwork shape | Following the model's outline, a box or a cylinder |
| You will need | Mold-making silicone, release agent, scales, a cup and a stick for mixing |
| Pours | Two: first silicone into the formwork, then the casting into the silicone |
Will your model work
| Model | Works? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wide base: a figurine, a dome | Yes | The mold comes off downward through the opening where the base was |
| A column, a candle | Yes | The base is no narrower than the top |
| On a narrow stem | With a caveat | The mold won't pull through a narrow opening — set “Mold bottom: Closed” and cut the finished mold along the seam |
| Small items up to 60 mm | Yes, but | It takes more silicone than needed — a form-fitting mold comes out thinner |
| Hollow: a cup, a planter | No | The inside fills with a solid plug — use the vase mold |
To get the files for printing:
Load the model
Drop an STL, OBJ or 3MF into the window. To try it out, load the example — a duck.
- 1The loaded file — “Replace” to pick another
- 2An example, if you don't have a model yet
Check how the model stands
The model should stand on its base on the bed. Where it touches the bed, the mold keeps an opening: the mold comes off the model through it, and later you pour the casting through it.
- 1“Placement” — if the model lies on its side
- 2The model stands on its base
- 3Rings — rotate the model with the mouse
Pick the mold bottom
Open — the model stands on the plate and the mold comes off through the bottom opening. Closed — the mold comes out sealed and you cut it along the seam: use it when the base is narrower than the top.
Click “Generate the shell”
The build runs on the server and takes from a few seconds to a minute.
Check the result
Above the view: how much silicone to mix. The second number is the amount for one casting in the material you picked.
- 1The formwork, assembled
- 2Clamps
- 3“Result” — the silicone mold you'll get
- 4“Slide apart” — separate the parts
The Result tab shows the silicone mold itself with the model inside.
Download the files
STL — a file per part. 3MF — one project for the slicer. The archive includes
print-settings.txtwith the pour weight.
Print the parts the way they lie in the file — don't rotate them. Turn supports on — tree supports.
- 1Formwork parts
- 2Base with the model
| Part | Orientation | Layer | Perimeters | Supports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base with the model | As in the file | 0.08 mm — every casting copies its surface | 3 | Tree, strong |
| Formwork parts | As in the file | 0.20 mm | 3 — otherwise silicone seeps through | Tree, slim, from the build plate only |
| Clamps | Lying down, as in the file | 0.20 mm | 3 | Tree, slim, from the build plate only |
All slicer settings for the model and the tooling
To cast the silicone mold:
Assemble the formwork
Coat the model and the inner walls with release agent. Set the parts around the base and push the clamps onto the rails all the way.
Mix the silicone
Weigh out what the generator showed. The same number is embossed on the tab of the base, so you can check it right at the scales.
Pour up to the step
Pour a thin stream into one spot, not onto the model. Stop when the silicone reaches the step inside the rim. Don't pour higher: the rim is what you grab to pull the parts apart.
Take the formwork apart
Once the silicone has cured (see the product instructions, usually a day), pull the clamps up by their tabs and pull the parts apart by the rim.
Peel the mold off the model
Pull the silicone off the model through the bottom opening.
To cast a copy:
Flip the mold
Stand it opening-up on a flat table. The walls are thick — the mold doesn't need the formwork anymore.
Pour level with the edge
Resin, plaster, wax or soap — up to the edge of the opening.
Take out the casting
Once it sets, peel the mold off the casting. The mold is ready for the next pour.
