When you’re getting close to a production run the prototypes truly requirement to hit the mark before pulling the trigger. [Bob’s] still difficult at work getting his scoreboard off the ground as well as his most recent venture was to discover a method to prototype the rubber gasket without blowing his shoestring budget. His solution was to harness the power of 3D printing to produce a design from which he might produce the mold from which he cast the rubber part.
To make things a bit more difficult, the band isn’t just decorative, it doubles as the tactile part of the scoreboard buttons. You can see all six of them (before being painted to make them stand out) in the inset picture above. just above that picture is a photo of the mold making process. The toothpicks are suspending the 3D printed design of the rubber band while the lower half of the silicone mold sets up. when that had occurred [Bob] sprayed release agent to ensure the top half of the mold wouldn’t stick while it cured.
The results turned out just great. Sure, this isn’t the method to go if you’re making a great deal of these things. however we’re impressed at the high quality he accomplish for a one-off item.
If the completed product on the left looks familiar it’s since we looked in on the job last June. [Bob] continues with enhancements as well as plans to introduce a crowd funding campaign this week.