How to use 3d printers to make Concrete Products

In this episode i experiment with using my Makerbot 3d printer to make a line of concrete products. My friends at the Urban Animal Scientist asked me to design a modern set of dog dishes. I 3d printed a prototype that i used for making a silicone mold. I used the the silicone mold to cast multiple dishes. Combining silicone mold making concrete casting and 3d printing has incredible potential for designers looking to start their own business. Once i created the molds i can make more than 10 sets of dishes out of a single bag of quikrete countertop mix. I will be making a new website for 3d printing projects soon at Pixel.Build. Disclaimer: This videos is intended for entertainment and inspiration only. Making stuff is dangerous. Always seek professional advice and training before making and using this or any design project.
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Ben: / benjaminuyeda
Jessie: / ijessup

[@henrysdiyclub2]

I love the stuff you do. It's really inspiring me to do more things with concrete (once I work through my extensive wood pile).

[@ThisWithThem]

This was awesome! Kate :)

[@iamu2ube]

Love the concise overview of concept-to-finished product. Thanks! Having a hard time finding this product online. Can you offer any guidance on how a guy can obtain your concrete food and water vessels?

[@jpluis1234]

Hi, what brand is the wax you used? Is it food safe? thanks!

[@hitsongsa]

Dude, im a fan!

[@xaviersaenz868]

please post more DIY...i have seen them all...youre genious...

[@CheckMyVitals]

I need these in my life

[@DIYModernTwins]

This is really fantastic Ben. I REALLY love your design. How did it work out with Fletcher?

[@MrJonathansb]

Brilliant!

[@linda95642]

Hi Can I ask what brand of this 3D printer? Love your films and designs. : )

[@deathblade909]

How would you do a more organic form from 3d printer to mold? same process but make sure there flat edges that would meet the board?

[@Geeksmithing]

good stuff man!

[@mikkelsteffensen3722]

Hello, I would just like to know what type of silicone you use and where to buy it? I can see you use smooth-on. But what products? Best Regards Mikkel

[@Tedlasman]

You need a clip of the animal using it :(

[@TheSavvyHeart]

Do you know what layer height or microns your 3d print was printed with?

[@ami4766]

What type of cement are you using on this project?

[@mortensrensen624]

Wow! Really nice work. I like how you mixed the possibilities of the 3d printer with your skills. Regarding the 3d printer: Is the prototype solid, or is there a clever trick to save filament and cut printing time? all the best

[@jamesgillespie271]

you can just cut down the infill percent

[@patrickmonkman8151]

My print has a raft inside and water seeps through, would silicone do the same or is it too thick ?

[@douglasthompsonstaff6602]

Does anyone make anything more complex for concrete casting? ie. a turtle mold, a frog, maybe a lantern - pour your cement in the mold and have garden decor

[@mixingreen]

Nice video. I also, would have loved to see your dog eating out of the dish. I was wondering whats the real purpose of the dish. Is it because the dog always leaves food in the bowl? Perhaps , he is full and doesnt want to eat anymore.

[@carolinadelaossa7383]

I wanted to see the quality test by your dog u.u

[@toobigal]

I want to see the dog eat out of it.

[@TheColonyRed]

yes!

[@julesparmentier]

Hi there! What kind of cement or concrete do you use for these products? I am planning to do some concrete products too but I can't find useful info about concrete quality. I already did some tests but the result is too rough... I'd like to use something more compact with very fine texture. any tip? thanks and keep inspiring us :)

[@ericnagle7169]

Jules Parmentier If you would like I could help you understand a good mix that would be very smooth without much finishing.

[@standardconcreteco.9948]

Jules Parmentier Jules I tried messaging you from another account but im not sure if it worked. If you still need help with finding good concrete for applications like this give me a shout.

[@vois]

+Eric Nagle hi mate, can i ask some questions in regards to concrete... email or fb?

[@l.4551]

bravo. but is the countertop sealant food safe?

[@HomeMadeModern]

liz turner great question, I tested a product that was labeled food safe but i am not 100% sure that it is. I think in the future i will use an all natural wax finish even if it loses a little bit of durability

[@MARS-GREENH0USE]

is your toilet food safe?

[@___echo___]

I doubt that it is

[@anapaulaanny7049]

HomeMadeModern qual o produto usado ...na latinha pequena e para que serve?

[@RexusKing]

Why don't you just glue the 3D printed object in the bottom of the plastic box? That way you don't even need a laminated board?

[@HomeMadeModern]

Rexus King i tried that before but found the the plastic bends and buckles sometimes.

[@RexusKing]

Never thinks of that kind of situation would happen, thanks for replying :)

[@nicholascampbell3128]

lol thought the exact same thing

[@syrdominik]

Where to buy the flexible silicone mold?

[@HomeMadeModern]

Dominik Syrový Smooth-On dot com

[@alisonalves8073]

Ótima ideia ! Custo benefício auto !! Não compensa .

[@ChrisPage68]

No rrrrrufff edges... :-)

[@oscarmzqt1]

What if the dog doesnt like your bowl and runs away from your bowl.

[@celulari]

a dish that makes a dog eat slower it's actually a good thing...

[@samhill4275]

Dude, rent a vacuum molding machine and make some out of plastic! Then once you have about 50... see how they sell?

[@bclaus0]

Cheaply vacuum molded products are ugly. On top of that they wouldn't be practical for the dog as they would slide around everywhere.

[@19rocket64]

the most expensive dog bowl on the planet....cost of mold.

[@frogspasm2000]

Rocket Sure, but each one you make gets cheaper :)

[@among-us-99999]

Why didn’t you print the mold directly? It saves expensive silicone And..concrete isn’t too healthy..

[@rcawesome4123]

First

[@GreatGeorge89]

nice project, and the design is smart, but dont think eating out of a concrete dish is good for a dog's health

[@DuckOnASkateboard]

GreatGeorge89 It's sealed with a wax finish, and it's sanded and all that noise. I'm pretty sure it's fine.

[@ericnagle7169]

GreatGeorge89 Many major municipal water reservoirs store drinking water in massive concrete holding tanks. I think It should be ok for dogs.

[@KaczkaKwa]

you dont need to use silicone. 3d Pronter make mold for concrete

[@Newalify]

Why don't you even use a unique 3D printed mold ? This silicone parts sucks :(

[@sanvosanata]

It's absolutely pointless to 3D print simple shapes. It's a waste of material, and money. It's really not so hard to make this shape with your hands and some instruments probably. I guess it's just trendy to use 3d printer, but you didn't know how to use it properly.

[@HeyitsCalifornia]

Why don't you demonstrate how to do it with your hands and some instruments. I'm really curious to see how easy it is. And if you can, why not show us the proper way to use a 3D printer since you seem to know about concrete and 3D printing so well.

[@chillmegachill]

It's been four months, we're all waiting San Vosanata

[@sanvosanata]

I'm sorry it seems I offended you somehow, and I also didn't see the notifications before, and so here I am 4 months later to convince you it's pointless to 3D print simple shapes. I'm not making a video of me modeling a cube out of clay, I have experience in this field and I most certainly have better things to do. People have made incredible, almost impossible sculptures without using technology, so trust me it is not so hard to make a cube. About the concrete, it has nothing to do with 3D printers. Make a mold and pour the concrete in, let it cure for some reasonable time(depending on the size mostly), remove the mold and it is done. And about the "proper" 3D printing: you can print anything. If you can't make a cube out of clay using some tools, then go spend a shitload of money on a 3D printer and print simple shapes. I would use it only for complicated models which I can't make any other way. But then most probably I wouldn't be able to make a mold because of it's complicity. Don't get me wrong I like these Home Made Modern videos, but I find this one pointless. It is perfectly suitable for the ones arguing above, but not for me.

[@andydouglass1374]

San Vosanata It's not pointless to 3d print simple shapes, as evidenced by this very video. The point was to make a mold for repeated casting, which he succeeded at.