Rubber mold or direct casting?
Vulcanized rubber mold: ideal for serial production of the same piece (over 20 units), relatively symmetrical geometry, solid or semi-solid pieces, wall thickness above 1.2mm. Direct casting (3D printing in castable resin): ideal for unique pieces or small series (1-20 units), organic, hollow, lattice or articulated designs, or designs with complex geometries impossible to demold.
Key technical rules
Minimum wall thickness: 1.2mm for mold, 0.8mm for direct casting. Undercuts: extreme undercuts or completely closed geometries indicate direct casting. Prongs and sheet thickness: setting prongs need at least 0.6mm in the design. Surface details: above 0.3mm depth reproduce faithfully in molds.
Designs that eliminate bench time and soldering
Integrated setting prongs, ring-earring sets in a single master, integrated pendant bails, integrated bracelet clasps — all eliminate unnecessary production steps and reduce cost.
