Build a Plastic Injection Molding Attachment for a Drill Press

Book Description

Publication Date: February 9, 2007

For the most part, plastic injection molding today is done with complex automated machinery turning out many thousands of items per day. But what if you are an experimenter, inventor or hobbyist and you just want a few parts made? We have attempted to answer that question for you by providing these plans for a small hobby size injection molding machine capable of molding slightly more than 1/2 ounce of plastic. (.59 ounce to be exact) This amazingly compact machine is designed to be used with a floor model style drill press having a minimum spindle travel of 3 inches. Thus, we refer to it as an injection molding attachment for a drill press. The unit itself measures approximately 12 inches long x 1-3/4 inch diameter at its widest point and weighs just 3 pounds. In operation, plastic is melted in the injection barrel of the machine by two 1/4 inch diameter x 2-1/2 inch long cartridge heaters. The temperature of the barrel is accurately controlled by a digital temperature controller and thermocouple arrangement. The force required to inject the plastic is provided by the feed mechanism of a drill press. Construction is simple and straight forward, but it will require basic metal working knowledge and the ability to operate a metal lathe and a drill press along with other hand and power tools associated with metal working and machine work in general. Here in this booklet you will receive detailed step by step instructions along with photos and drawings showing how to build your very own injection molding attachment for a drill press. A material list is provided. Suppliers are also identified and you will also receive a basic introduction to plastic injection molding in general. Before you know it, you will be creating plastic products of your own design. And you will have the capability to cast replacement parts, or even make copies of those hard to find items. The possibilities are indeed endless.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: David J. Gingery Publishing; First edition (February 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878087312
• ISBN-13: 978-1878087317
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.2 inches

Making Homemade Rubber Mouldings Using Cheap Tooling

Rubber parts are an integral part in home, commercial or industrial applications and are used for a variety of functions and applications like machine parts or tools. In an industrial setting, these rubber parts are usually made using an injection mold machine which can be quite expensive if used in a non-commercial setting.

However, hobbyists or do-it-yourself enthusiasts can make their own rubber moulds using only cheap tooling materials which do not require sophisticated professional expertise. You can make rubber moulds to create copies or castings of any small household items or objects. You can also make that missing rubber part in your appliance or tool which seems hard to find or is not available anymore in the market, or you can make small sculptures, artworks, toys and decorative items as a hobby or as a small business.

Materials You Will Need

There are two sets of materials you will need: the material you will use for your mold and the casting material you will use to make your objects. Rubber molds can be produced through commercial rubber molding compounds, which includes latex rubber, silicone rubber or room-temperature vulcanizing rubber or RTV. This usually comes in the form of a liquid rubber material and a catalyst used to solidify the rubber material and take form.

You would also need a container to hold the rubber material when you cast an object and make rubber mouldings. One of the more popular types is modeling clay made from oil-based polymers. Once your mold is finished, you can now make replicas of your casting using a wide variety of materials like cement, plaster, gypsum, resins and wax. 

Making a Homemade Rubber Moulding

The first step is to make a container for your mold using a clay moulding box which is an effective cheap tooling you can use. You can roll a layer of clay on a flat board then form it to create a cylinder or box big enough to enclose your mould. Ensure that there would be no leaks where the moulding compound can seep through.

Next is to prepare the object to be casted by coating it with petroleum jelly, allowing it to be easily removed once the mold has set. Place it inside your moulding box. Prepare your rubber moulding compound according to specified instructions of the materials you will use and then pour it over the object, gently tapping the box to remove air bubbles. Allow it to set for several hours depending on the type of material you used. Once set, you can now remove the original object and you can now make duplicates using your newly-formed rubber mouldings.
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