Molds and wax

The Molds & wax tab plans a rubber mold for your master and the wax injection settings for it.

#The master

Enter the master's size, or click Use the loaded model's size to take it from the model, laid flat. Say what the master is made of, since some rubbers don't suit some masters.

#Frame

The app picks the thinnest standard frame with at least 13 mm (½ in) of rubber around the master, and the master no taller than ⅔ of the frame. Top and side diagrams show the fit, and it warns when the master doesn't fit.

#Rubber

There are 16 rubbers to choose from, including Castaldo natural, silicone, VLT, Rapido, liquid and putty, and Rio Grande's Belicone and Cold Mold. For each one you get:

• how many layers to pack,
• the vulcanizing or cure time for your frame thickness, from the maker's table,
• how much the rubber shrinks.

It warns when a hot-vulcanizing rubber would melt a resin or wax master, and about brass bonding to natural rubber.

#Sizing the master

Rubber, wax and metal all shrink a little. Master sizing works out how much bigger to make the master so the casting comes out right. The default overall shrinkage is 8%, and you can change it.

#Wax injection

Pick from 20 injection waxes to see the pot temperature, a starting air pressure and the hold time. There are grouped tips for injection and mold making, with 26 sources.

Click Print mold label for a label to keep with the mold.