How to Make RC Silicone Tires with 3D Printed Molds

[@rickster58]

Well done! A few thoughts, instead of vaseline use spray on mold release to preserve the tread details. And when gluing the tires to the rims, apply the glue to surface of the that the tire sits on rather than the edges. Overall though you did a great job, and the mold is very cleverly designed.

[@3dimensions478]

Thanks, in the next projects I'll try to improve the process.

[@klaiddias]

Really good job bro!!! Congratulations....

[@3dimensions478]

Thanks!

[@EckhardReich]

Many thanks for this great inspiration - it will be an easy job if you know how to do

[@ITman3Dmain]

Super. I also used silicone, only I have a slightly different production technology

[@rallekralle11]

that's a really clever idea, to not use any internal mould part

[@roderichriegel3403]

Great idea

[@98f5]

I just print the tires directly with various flexible materials but usually i use "varioshore" foaming tpu

[@3dimensions478]

In the past I used the same method, however with silicone I have a lot more grip.

[@slakjawnotsayin5451]

This is what I was going to try, but also add a softener to it, which I can't remember what I used to use for making silicon and cornstarch molds a few years back... Maybe it was mineral spirits or mineral oil or something?? Just adding a little drop of whatever it was, would be enough to soften it and make it a nicer rubber. Hopefully I made notes for when I figured out the best combo back then, and if I can find such notes somewhere, I'll come back and comment on it. Or after I mess around with this stuff again soon and figure it out again. I need to make slot car tires, cuz my originals on my 32 scale cars are all hardened and toast... So I need something cheap and grippy, and would also be cool to blow a tire here and there having to change them in the pit. LOL Actually, I used to use the clear silicone and add a color to it with cheap acrylic paints from Walmart, so maybe I will just try using the black silicone without the softener whatever it was, and see how they work out first. Thank you for this video man!!!

[@3dimensions478]

Thank you very much for your comment, after several attempts this was the best solution I found, I tried using some materials to soften the final rubber but I never had good results, and as I was going to use it on tarmac it was good that it was harder and more resistant. If you find out what the material is, I'd love to know. Thanks!

[@karloss031]

Great !! any video on how to CAD design the mold?..rgds

[@3dimensions478]

No, I designed the molds myself, but you'll certainly find similar toturials on youtube

[@kevinjohnson5356]

pretty nice, i am making my own rims and i can find tires for them bc they are so wide

[@jasonlange8341]

How do you do it if you can't fill your mold like that? And mine doesn't have any holes drilled in it to pour anything in. I can Def pack the top and bottom like that but I'll never know if I have enough inside plus making the 2 halves 1

[@3dimensions478]

As the silicone with the cornstarch is very thick, the best solution I found was to spread it like this, I couldn't just pour it in, so I made the mold with that in mind.

[@ahmadabudayah4581]

thanks, but what is the material that you used?

[@3dimensions478]

I used silicone from Soudal and cornstarch from a Portuguese brand.

[@MrGTAmodsgerman]

Does it matter which silicone it is?

[@3dimensions478]

I used construction silicone, I don't know if the results will be different with others

[@MrGTAmodsgerman]

@@3dimensions478 ok thanks.

[@Brian-ks6kf]

This is awesome. How is the grip compared to rubber or foam tires?

[@3dimensions478]

Thank you! I have never used foam tires so I can't compare, compared to rubber tires the silicone tires have more grip. The biggest disadvantage is the lifespan, they last less time, especially on very rough surfaces, however I have tested on concrete and asphalt and they didn't show significant wear.

[@chadbukowski3993]

Have a link to the 3d mold model?

[@3dimensions478]

I will use these tires and rims on my next RC car, I have already finished it but still need to record and edit the video. When I post the video I will make all the STLs available.

[@theaussienurseflipper.8113]

Where file for the file the mould cheers Graham

[@3dimensions478]

I shared the files in the last video on the channel.

[@theaussienurseflipper.8113]

@@3dimensions478 thx u

[@curtisnewton895]

starsh is really useless imo, the silicon itself is rubbery enough btw, what silicon do you use ? soudal black what ? not even sure it is silicon why the mystery about what you use ?

[@3dimensions478]

Corn starch is essential to make the end result more resistant and durable, it makes the mixture easier to apply because it is thicker, makes it easier to remove the piece from the mould and gives a final result similar to real rubber. The silicone I used is no mystery, it's Soudal's Universal Black silicone.

[@adrixrc]

thanks

[@curtisnewton895]

you dont even explain anything about the mold itself

[@3dimensions478]

I've provided an instruction manual on how to assemble the mould and some more details of the process. The video is an example of how to do it, which can be replicated using the STLs I've provided for the rc car I made.