How to break the cycle of testing, making mistakes, correcting, and testing again in product development? Silicone molding for flip-flop production – a self-contained production line eliminating outsourcing! London-based industrial design firm Beta Design does it this way, showcasing how to create something from scratch:
In the product development process, prototype design is the most important stage, and it is often more complex than initially imagined. It requires a continuous cycle of testing, making mistakes, correcting, and testing until the goal is achieved. Generally, product testing requires a lot of time and money to be outsourced to industrial factories for repeated testing until the results meet the design requirements.
London-based industrial design studio Beta Design also had to overcome the same challenges in the process of developing and manufacturing shoes, especially given the variety of shoe materials and the need for multiple tests. To replace the traditional outsourcing production process, the team used the Mayku Multiplier vacuum compression molding machine , along with a 3D printer, to create their own production line for developing various shoe styles, while also considering ergonomics and aesthetics in the design.
First, design a 3D shoe model and use a hot melt stacking (FDM) 3D printer , along with high-temperature resistant 3D printing filaments such as ABS and HIPS, to create a reusable template.
Place the 3D printed flip-flop model into the Multiplier desktop compression molding machine , along with a flexible vacuum forming material sheet . Activate the machine's heating function. Once the specified temperature is reached, the vacuum forming material sheet will soften and droop. Then, press down the handle to begin vacuum shaping. The entire process is completed in 3 minutes! Furthermore, by simply repeating the material sheet, the flip-flop mold can be quickly and infinitely replicated to achieve mass production of the same shape.
The Multiplier benchtop molding machine boasts a four-ton downward pressure, ensuring a perfect fit even for objects with 90-degree right-angle edges. After cooling, it can be easily demolded. ( Click to see: Chocolate fancy desserts, infinitely replicable, completed in 5 minutes! )
To find the most suitable material for flip-flops, Beta Design began testing a large number of materials, injecting various materials into vacuum-formed shoe molds and demolding them after the materials solidified. By repeating this simple step, they could quickly produce and arrange all the shoes for which they wanted to test the effects!
Traditional silicone mold casting is slow and costly, taking "several days" to complete a mold. With the Mayku Multiplier pressure molding machine as the main tool, the Beta team can complete a mold in "5 minutes". Even if modifications are needed, they can be made immediately and production can continue, greatly accelerating the speed of product development for the company.
The Mayku Multiplier compression molding machine boasts industrial-grade high quality while maintaining a compact desktop size, making it suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and independent creators. It meets the needs of customized parts molds and can complete mass production in a short time. 3D printing offers more than just 3D printing ; contact us today to learn more about the detailed applications of vacuum forming machines .
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