3D Printing Rubber Puppet Parts

[monkeyjb1988]

Hello everyone. A long while ago, I stumbled upon using 3D printing for puppets and thought it was cool. Just a few days ago, I was messing around and saw that you could print a material that was like latex. I immediately thought "Why not a puppet head?"

Then I remembered that most oddly shaped 3D models need support material and why that would make things more difficult for a hollow puppet head. That said, I've seen examples of a 3D printed rubber glove, like on this site
http://www.javelin-tech.com/3d-printer/javelin-3d-printing-services/

My question to everyone (especially Tioh if he/she sees it; sorry I don't know your gender) is whether I should I go ahead and try to print a 3D puppet head out of rubber or just do what Adam did on the Mythbusters Simpsons episode?

(Er... 3D print a mold and cast the head like that, not use a wrecking ball on a house or drop cherry bombs down a toilet. Sorry, should've been more specific).

 

[Tioh]

You can print a mold or directly print flexible material (that is very difficult for large objects - most flexible materials are prone to warping). Also, you can print a positive, sand it down (to make it smooth) and make a silicone mold from it.

A friend of mine tried casting several expanding foam types and also latex and silicone - it works, but you need a well-ventilated work area and protective gear (the foam chemicals are very toxic till they have expanded - gloves are NOT enough).

 

[monkeyjb1988]

You can print a mold or directly print flexible material (that is very difficult for large objects - most flexible materials are prone to warping). Also, you can print a positive, sand it down (to make it smooth) and make a silicone mold from it.

A friend of mine tried casting several expanding foam types and also latex and silicone - it works, but you need a well-ventilated work area and protective gear (the foam chemicals are very toxic till they have expanded - gloves are NOT enough).

Thank you Tioh. I had a feeling printing the mold or cast the 3D printed positive would work best. You warning about warping helped.

Also, thanks for the warning about expanding foam.

 

[monkeyjb1988]

If anyone happens upon this thread, I found two videos regarding 3D molds and casting from Tested:

It's about masks, but aren't cast rubber puppets just masks that fit your hand? (That was rhetorical: I think yes, but you can disagree )