Prototyping & Inventing How‑To's

Prototyping & Inventing
It all starts with an idea for an invention or product that you think has commercial potential. On your way to developing your idea, you will need a three dimensional physical representation before you go to production and that's where Smooth-On rubber, plastic and foam materials come in. Smooth-On materials have been the tools used to make prototype models for over 60 years and are still instrumental today in bringing the world's most amazing products to market.

How To Make a 1 Piece Silicone Cut Mold

How To Make a 1 Piece Silicone Cut Mold

Mold Star® 15 is perfect for experienced mold makers or people just starting out.

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How To Make a 2 Part Silicone Mold Using Mold Star™ 15

How To Make a 2 Part Silicone Mold Using Mold Star™ 15

This video outlines the 2-part block mold making technique using silicone rubber.

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How To Make a 2 Piece Silicone Mold Using OOMOO™

How To Make a 2 Piece Silicone Mold Using OOMOO™

Mold box construction, model preparation and release agent application for a 2 part pour on mold are covered in this video.

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How To Make a Custom Foam Storage Insert

How To Make a Custom Foam Storage Insert

A Custom Made Foam Insert for Electronics or Other Delicate Equipment

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How To Make a Prototype Impact-Resistant Rectangular Sifting Mat

How To Make a Prototype Impact-Resistant Rectangular Sifting Mat

Watch how a CNC routed prototype turns into a durable urethane finished product

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How To Make Custom Foam Hollow Rocks for Outdoor Speakers

How To Make Custom Foam Hollow Rocks for Outdoor Speakers

E-Z Spray® Expandable Foam Is Used To Create 'Hollow Rocks' to House Outdoor Speakers.

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How To Vent a Silicone Mold to Eliminate Bubbles In Casting

How To Vent a Silicone Mold to Eliminate Bubbles In Casting

This sequence chronicles Mr. Ross's process in successfully reproducing this model using an advanced mold making technique.

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How To Add Color Effects To a 3D Printed Part Using XTC-3D™

How To Add Color Effects To a 3D Printed Part Using XTC-3D™

This video demonstrates how to use XTC-3D epoxy coating to smooth and apply color to a 3D printed architectural model.

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How To Smooth the Surface of a 3D Printed Model Using XTC-3D™

How To Smooth the Surface of a 3D Printed Model Using XTC-3D™

In this video, XTC-3D® Epoxy is used to coat a 3D piece printed in PLA.

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Quickly Adding a Metallic Finish to a 3D Print

Quickly Adding a Metallic Finish to a 3D Print

This video shows how to make a 3D printed PLA object look like real metal using XTC-3D® epoxy.

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How to Make a Silicone Mold of 3D Print

How to Make a Silicone Mold of 3D Print

This video demonstrates how to use Mold Star 20T to make a silicone mold of extruded PLA.

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Strengthening a 3D Powder Print with XTC-3D Epoxy Resin Coating

Strengthening a 3D Powder Print with XTC-3D Epoxy Resin Coating

In this video, we demonstrate how to properly thin XTC-3D for infusion of powder printed 3D pieces.

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Prototyping a Durable Conveyor Belt Cleaner

Prototyping a Durable Conveyor Belt Cleaner

From a PLA 3D printed prototype, learn how to make a durable belt cleaner out of industrial urethane rubber

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How To Make a Silicone Mold of a Prototype Using Smooth-Sil™ 960

How To Make a Silicone Mold of a Prototype Using Smooth-Sil™ 960

The process of creating a very high accuracy silicone mold using platinum cure silicone.

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How To Make a Custom Steering Wheel: Part 1, Silicone Moldmaking

How To Make a Custom Steering Wheel: Part 1, Silicone Moldmaking

Milo shows how you can make a silicone mold of a steering wheel to create an aftermarket part.

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How To Make a Custom Steering Wheel: Part 2, Resin Casting

How To Make a Custom Steering Wheel: Part 2, Resin Casting

Milo shows how he casts a Crystal Clear urethane resin steering wheel in this tutorial video

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Making a DIY HEPA Respirator Using TASK™ 8 Urethane Resin

Making a DIY HEPA Respirator Using TASK™ 8 Urethane Resin

Learn how to quickly make multiple respirators for personal protection

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How To Make a Reusable DIY Silicone Respirator Using Mold Star 20T Silicone Rubber

How To Make a Reusable DIY Silicone Respirator Using Mold Star 20T Silicone Rubber

How you can create a silicone respirator using Mold Star™ 20T skin safe silicone.

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How To Make Ear Savers Using Mold Star™ 20T Smooth-Cast™ 65D

How To Make Ear Savers Using Mold Star™ 20T Smooth-Cast™ 65D

Milo shows how to create resin ear savers using a Mold Star™ 20T silicone mold and Smooth-Cast™ 65D casting resin.

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Using an Innovative Silicone Tool to Vacuum Form an RC Car Body

Using an Innovative Silicone Tool to Vacuum Form an RC Car Body

Milo takes on vacuum forming an RC car body which presents an interesting challenge.

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Making a Platinum Silicone Mold of an SLA Printed UV-Cure Model

Making a Platinum Silicone Mold of an SLA Printed UV-Cure Model

Learn how model makers create rubber molds and multiple castings of 3-D prints made with SLA.

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