<p>You can also bring the model and a big box into slic3r, align and orient them (enclose the model in the box), and do a subtract modifier, leaving a hollow where the two intersected. You probably want to do this twice, for a top mould and a botom mould. I've done this, but I don't see any instructions online for it. :(</p>

<p>EDIT: Unfortunately, this would be very tedious. It's much easier to use meshmixer or another publicly available program to subtract one stl from another.</p>

<p>In Slic3r, using another stl as a modifier has no effect unless you are also printing that second stl (normally from another head). So you would have to manually remove all the gcode for the second head. Sorry for the bad advice.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-07T21:05:37.800Z
Nice answer, maybe you could write the instructions here and post some screenshots to accompany the text, would be a nice reference.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-07T21:07:39.547Z
I can beef this up with instructions and screenshots tomorrow. :)
Davo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T05:31:36.603Z
Yes. This looks a simple yet effective solution. Pls. give detailed steps to do the mold making in slic3r starting from how to make a box in it. (I have the model defined in stl format). Basically I have the stl file of the model. I need to generate a mold for it and do 3D printing of the mold. Thanks.
Arvind Gupta
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T07:44:16.837Z
@ArvindGupta Please update your question to describe what you are pouring into the mould, just a simple mould may not be sufficient as you may need to add holes to pour your material in, or need riser holes for de-aeration. I doubt whether that is possible with this solution.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T13:09:53.163Z
I agree with the Meshmixer suggestion:  "Boolean difference" is relatively quick.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T15:29:35.477Z
OK. So as I understand,  I need to create stl of two solid blocks, sandwich the stl of the object in between and do the boolean subtraction. Is that right? If so, can anyone give step by step instructions as to how to do so pls?  Importantly, how to create a stl of a block in meshmixer and how to do boolean subtraction in it? Do I have to do the boolean operation separately two times or can I do it once only keeping both blocks side by side surrounding the job?  Also, how to add a drill for injecting the liquid raw material? Maybe by doing a subtractive addition with a cylinder?
Arvind Gupta
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T17:12:20.367Z
@Arvind Gupta Indeed, you need another cylinder subtracted to gain access to the cavity
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T18:37:44.930Z
@ArvindGupta  in brief: position both items as desired.  Un-select everything.  First select the object you "want" , then the intersection object. The order matters.  Then hit "Boolean difference"   There are a couple very good YouTube vids showing how to do this.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-09T04:34:53.063Z
Thanks Carl. I have 2 more queries pls. Is there any other free tool apart from meshmixer in which I can do this (meshmixer is hanging my PC). Also, how to create the starting solid blocks and the cylinder in the same? I am completely new in CAD drawings (basically an EC engg :) ). Thanks in advance.
Arvind Gupta
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-07T19:31:57.340Z
2018-05-08T12:44:54.877Z
2018-05-08T12:44:54.877Z
Davo
<p>In addition to the answer of Davo (which describes a surprising feature of the slicer software I was unaware of), a more generic description would involve the use of a 3D solid model CAD program. You should be aware that a model in STL format is not a solid model, it is a surface model. In order to make a mold you would have to import the STL model into a CAD program (there are a few free ones available like Fusion 360 or FreeCAD or maybe many more that will work also) and make a solid body from the surface model. Next thing is to create a large rectangular block and subtract the positive model from the block. Now a negative lives inside this block so you will need to conveniently cut the block through your negative to create 2 mold parts. Be sure that you divide the block so that you can take out the casting from the mold parts and also add an entry to pour in the liquid casting material and add risers (holes) to de-aerate the cavity. Furthermore, for alignment, you could add pins and holes to the mold parts.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T13:10:13.430Z
meshmixer has a "Make solid" function.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-07T21:16:58.503Z
2018-05-24T07:34:58.960Z
2018-05-24T07:34:58.960Z
0scar
<p>While trying to find a soloution to this problem I came across <a href="https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,192082" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this forum post</a>, which led me to "<a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:31581" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Parametric two-part mold generator for OpenSCAD</a>" on Thingiverse.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A set of parametric OpenSCAD scripts that generate ready-to-print two-part molds from arbitrary STL models. </p>
  
  <p>These scripts can be used to generate either square (with or without
  rounded corners) or circular two-part molds and are fully
  parameterized to make it easy to adapt for your application.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Here's an example from Thingiverse.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/YY31p.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/YY31p.jpg" alt="A parametric two-part mold, and casted object"></a></p>

<p>You can find a download, install instructions or source code for OpenSCAD <a href="http://www.openscad.org/downloads.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-24T19:11:33.057Z
2019-01-24T19:11:33.057Z
Starbuck
<p>I want to know how to make a mold of a 3D design in .stl format.</p>

<p>Suppose I have a 3D partin .stl format (for e.g. a cylinder) and I want to make/design a mold for this object (i.e. the structure through which I could make the cylinder). Is there any way to do so? Are there any tools to do so?</p>

<p>My requirement is as follows: I have an .stl file of a design and need to develop the CAD files for its mold. I will then need to 3D print these molds. I would require to add a hole to pour in liquid (resin based) raw material which hardens with time. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-07T19:12:35.093Z
What kind of mold you are looking for? for plastic extrusion or resine molding?
Fernando Baltazar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T13:10:54.330Z
Adding a hole is trivial assuming you own a drill :-)
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T13:12:44.527Z
An off-the wall thought: if it were possible to modify a printer to use wax or other low-temperature melting point material,  then print the item, pack in sand, and use lost-wax method of casting.
Carl Witthoft
<3d-design>
Generating mold from stl file of the 3D drawing of the object
Arvind Gupta
# Generating mold from stl file of the 3D drawing of the object

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-07)

I want to know how to make a mold of a 3D design in .stl format.

Suppose I have a 3D partin .stl format (for e.g. a cylinder) and I want to make/design a mold for this object (i.e. the structure through which I could make the cylinder). Is there any way to do so? Are there any tools to do so?

My requirement is as follows: I have an .stl file of a design and need to develop the CAD files for its mold. I will then need to 3D print these molds. I would require to add a hole to pour in liquid (resin based) raw material which hardens with time.

**Tags:** 3d-design

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What kind of mold you are looking for? for plastic extrusion or resine molding?  
> **username_2**: Adding a hole is trivial assuming you own a drill :-)  
> **username_2**: An off-the wall thought: if it were possible to modify a printer to use wax or other low-temperature melting point material,  then print the item, pack in sand, and use lost-wax method of casting.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-05-07. Score: 5

You can also bring the model and a big box into slic3r, align and orient them (enclose the model in the box), and do a subtract modifier, leaving a hollow where the two intersected. You probably want to do this twice, for a top mould and a botom mould. I've done this, but I don't see any instructions online for it. :(

EDIT: Unfortunately, this would be very tedious. It's much easier to use meshmixer or another publicly available program to subtract one stl from another.

In Slic3r, using another stl as a modifier has no effect unless you are also printing that second stl (normally from another head). So you would have to manually remove all the gcode for the second head. Sorry for the bad advice.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Nice answer, maybe you could write the instructions here and post some screenshots to accompany the text, would be a nice reference.  
> **username_3**: I can beef this up with instructions and screenshots tomorrow. :)  
> **username_0**: Yes. This looks a simple yet effective solution. Pls. give detailed steps to do the mold making in slic3r starting from how to make a box in it. (I have the model defined in stl format). Basically I have the stl file of the model. I need to generate a mold for it and do 3D printing of the mold. Thanks.  
> **username_4**: @username_0 Please update your question to describe what you are pouring into the mould, just a simple mould may not be sufficient as you may need to add holes to pour your material in, or need riser holes for de-aeration. I doubt whether that is possible with this solution.  
> **username_2**: I agree with the Meshmixer suggestion:  "Boolean difference" is relatively quick.  
> **username_0**: OK. So as I understand,  I need to create stl of two solid blocks, sandwich the stl of the object in between and do the boolean subtraction. Is that right? If so, can anyone give step by step instructions as to how to do so pls?  Importantly, how to create a stl of a block in meshmixer and how to do boolean subtraction in it? Do I have to do the boolean operation separately two times or can I do it once only keeping both blocks side by side surrounding the job?  Also, how to add a drill for injecting the liquid raw material? Maybe by doing a subtractive addition with a cylinder?  
> **username_4**: @username_0 Indeed, you need another cylinder subtracted to gain access to the cavity  
> **username_2**: @username_0  in brief: position both items as desired.  Un-select everything.  First select the object you "want" , then the intersection object. The order matters.  Then hit "Boolean difference"   There are a couple very good YouTube vids showing how to do this.  
> **username_0**: Thanks username_2. I have 2 more queries pls. Is there any other free tool apart from meshmixer in which I can do this (meshmixer is hanging my PC). Also, how to create the starting solid blocks and the cylinder in the same? I am completely new in CAD drawings (basically an EC engg :) ). Thanks in advance.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-05-07. Score: 3

In addition to the answer of username_3 (which describes a surprising feature of the slicer software I was unaware of), a more generic description would involve the use of a 3D solid model CAD program. You should be aware that a model in STL format is not a solid model, it is a surface model. In order to make a mold you would have to import the STL model into a CAD program (there are a few free ones available like Fusion 360 or FreeCAD or maybe many more that will work also) and make a solid body from the surface model. Next thing is to create a large rectangular block and subtract the positive model from the block. Now a negative lives inside this block so you will need to conveniently cut the block through your negative to create 2 mold parts. Be sure that you divide the block so that you can take out the casting from the mold parts and also add an entry to pour in the liquid casting material and add risers (holes) to de-aerate the cavity. Furthermore, for alignment, you could add pins and holes to the mold parts.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: meshmixer has a "Make solid" function.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-01-24. Score: 2

While trying to find a soloution to this problem I came across [this forum post](https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,192082), which led me to "[Parametric two-part mold generator for OpenSCAD](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:31581)" on Thingiverse.

> A set of parametric OpenSCAD scripts that generate ready-to-print two-part molds from arbitrary STL models.
>
> These scripts can be used to generate either square (with or without
> rounded corners) or circular two-part molds and are fully
> parameterized to make it easy to adapt for your application.

Here's an example from Thingiverse.
[![A parametric two-part mold, and casted object](https://i.sstatic.net/YY31p.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/YY31p.jpg)

You can find a download, install instructions or source code for OpenSCAD [here](http://www.openscad.org/downloads.html).


---

