School of Engineering · Playlist

Manufacturing Documentation

Critical dimensions, bills of materials, operation method sheets, and documenting a silicone mold.

  1. Critical Dimensions for the Shop
  2. Bills of Materials
  3. Operation Method Sheets
  4. Making Silicone Molds from a Printed Pattern
Materials and Manufacturing Processes/Manufacturing Documentation

Critical Dimensions for the Shop

Choose dimensions from fit, function and interfaces, then give the maker and inspector the same references and limits.

A critical dimension controls fit, function or an interface

A critical dimension controls fit, function or an interface

A critical dimension is one whose variation can stop the part doing its job. Start with what touches another part, what must move or clear, and what locates the part. A hole's diameter may control whether a pin enters; its position may control whether two parts line up.

Critical does not mean “make every tolerance tight.” A tolerance is the permitted variation in a dimension. Choose it from the function, then check that the process and inspection method can achieve it. See Tolerances and Fits for limits and fits, Measurement Language for units and measurement language, and Surface Texture and Finish for surface requirements.

Give hole locations from named reference edges

Give hole locations from named reference edges

The original DL-01 display plate below illustrates a shop drawing. Its two suspension holes must stay at the intended locations; length and width mainly establish the display area. These are invented teaching limits, not a general specification for plywood or hanging hardware.

DL-01 revision A. Front view of a 100 by 40 mm plate with two through holes. From left edge L, centers are at 15 and 85 mm; both are 20 mm from bottom edge B. Hole diameter is 4.5 mm. Side view shows 6 mm thickness. Critical hole dimensions are marked C; all limits are in the table.

All dimensions in mm. Not to scale for measurement. L and B are plain-language reference labels, not formal geometric-tolerancing datum symbols. C marks the dimensions selected as critical for this example.
DL-01 revision A — drawing requirements
FeatureRequirementReason / inspection
Material and outlineBirch plywood; length 100 ±1; width 40 ±1; thickness 6 ±0.5 mm.Display area and thickness. Measure with calipers; check adjacent edges with a try square for no visible gap.
C — two through holesEach diameter 4.5 ±0.2 mm.Openings for the loops; use suitable plug gauges for 4.3–4.7 mm limits.
C — center positionsFrom L: x = 15 ±0.5 and 85 ±0.5 mm. From B: y = 20 ±0.5 mm for each.Consistent suspension locations. Check each coordinate from the stated edge.
Surface and edgesNo coating; no loose fibers, splits or separated plywood layers.Visual inspection after sanding; retain the dimensional limits.

All features have requirements, including those not marked C. See Operation Method Sheets for the manufacturing sequence and Bills of Materials for the matching parts list.

Worked record: correct horizontal separation, wrong locations

For this classroom comparison with DL-01 revision A, treat the following readings as exact mm values. The near-edge readings run horizontally right from L and vertically up from B to the nearest edge of each hole. Calculate each center using that hole's measured diameter.

  • Left hole: diameter 4.6; near edges 13.3 from L and 17.2 from B. Center x = 13.3 + 4.6/2 = 15.6 mm; y = 17.2 + 4.6/2 = 19.5 mm.
  • Right hole: diameter 4.4; near edges 83.4 from L and 18.3 from B. Center x = 83.4 + 4.4/2 = 85.6 mm; y = 18.3 + 4.4/2 = 20.5 mm.

Record the comparisons: both diameters meet 4.3–4.7 mm. Left x = 15.6 exceeds 15.5; right x = 85.6 exceeds 85.5, so both x locations fail. Both y locations meet 19.5–20.5 mm, including its endpoints. The horizontal separation is 85.6 − 15.6 = 70.0 mm, the nominal x-coordinate difference, but the pair is shifted right. These hole readings do not meet the drawing's separate location limits; correct horizontal separation alone does not locate the pair. This record compares only the stated hole readings, not the outline, thickness or surface requirements.

Supporting detail: Addendum 1 — How to check a center when a caliper touches the hole edge.

Dimension the part so it can be made without measuring the picture; Checklist; Practice

Dimension the part so it can be made without measuring the picture

Include the part identity, revision, material, units, overall dimensions, feature sizes and locations, thickness, and required finish. Supply enough views to remove ambiguity. Call a hole “through” when it passes through the material; otherwise specify depth.

Locate related features from a common reference where that matches their function. Do not give multiple independent dimensions for the same feature unless their relationship is clear. A redundant dimension can contradict the dimensions used to make the part.

  • Identify every mating surface, clearance and locating feature.
  • Choose references the maker can establish and the inspector can reach.
  • Check that each feature has a size, location and acceptance limit.
  • Remove conflicting or missing dimensions; do not rely on drawing scale.
  • Match the drawing revision to the method sheet and BOM.

Choose a critical feature

Materials and Manufacturing Processes/Manufacturing Documentation

Bills of Materials

List the parts in an assembly and estimate each part's material share without confusing stock purchases with per-part consumption.

A bill of materials says what goes into one assembly

A bill of materials says what goes into one assembly

A bill of materials (BOM) lists the parts needed for a product. Give each part a stable number, a clear name, a quantity per assembly, a material and a make-or-buy designation. Identify the stock for made parts and the purchasing description for bought parts.

Made means the part needs a drawing and a route such as an operation method sheet. Bought means it arrives as a component; it still needs a size and specification so the buyer can obtain the correct item. Match the BOM revision to the assembly drawing. State whether quantities are per assembly or for the whole batch.

Material cost per part is its allocated stock share times stock price

Material cost per part is its allocated stock share times stock price

Estimated material cost per part = stock share allocated to that part × price of that stock unit. Keep both amounts on the same basis: length for constant-section bar, area for sheet of the same thickness, or mass when purchased by mass.

Allow for the saw cut's width (kerf), trimming and unusable stock. Finished-part volume alone can understate what making the part consumes. State how you allocate waste and reusable leftovers so two estimates can be compared.

Supporting detail: Addendum 2 — Consumption, purchase cost and batch yield answer different questions.

Worked BOM: one display label assembly costs $1.20 in allocated materials

Worked BOM: one display label assembly costs $1.20 in allocated materials

This original example matches DL-01 in Operation Method Sheets and Critical Dimensions for the Shop. All prices are invented teaching values, not quotations. Assembly DL-A, revision A, contains one made plywood plate and two purchased closed cord loops.

The 110 × 50 × 6 mm starting blank is allocated a 120 × 60 mm area of a 1200 × 120 × 6 mm birch plywood strip costing $18. The larger allocation includes room for cutting and trimming. Allocation share = (120 × 60) / (1200 × 120) = 0.05. Plate material estimate = 0.05 × $18 = $0.90.

DL-A revision A — quantities and material estimate per assembly
Part number / nameMake / buy; material and stockQuantityCost eachExtended cost
DL-01 / display label plateMake; birch plywood, blank 110 × 50 × 6 mm; allocated stock area 120 × 60 mm as above.1$0.90$0.90
DL-02 / closed cord loopBuy; waxed cotton cord, 1 mm diameter, 100 mm closed-loop circumference; example pack of 20 for $3.2$0.15$0.30
Total allocated material and purchased-component cost per assembly$1.20

Extended cost is quantity × cost each. The $1.20 excludes labor, machine time, tooling, consumables, taxes and delivery. It is not a complete manufacturing cost or a selling price. Broader cost roll-up and design-for-manufacturing decisions belong with manufacturing economics.

Buying one strip and one pack costs $21, even for one assembly. Unused material remains inventory; do not confuse that purchase total with $1.20 of allocated consumption.

Check quantities, units and waste before totaling the BOM; Checklist; Practice

Check quantities, units and waste before totaling the BOM

  • Match every drawing part number to a BOM row.
  • State the quantity per assembly and multiply once for the batch quantity.
  • Specify stock dimensions and material for made parts, and purchasing details for bought parts.
  • Use the same units in the stock-share numerator and denominator.
  • Document the cutting allowance and treatment of leftovers.
  • Multiply each quantity by its unit cost and sum the extended costs.

Keep unrounded intermediate calculations; round money to cents at the stated reporting step.

Practice stock-share cost Practice a BOM total

Materials and Manufacturing Processes/Manufacturing Documentation

Operation Method Sheets

Turn a drawing into an ordered plan with equipment, setup, process settings and a check that proves each operation is complete.

A method sheet tells another person how to make and check the part

A method sheet tells another person how to make and check the part

A drawing describes the required part. An operation method sheet describes how to make it. A process plan or routing sheet serves the same planning purpose, although the amount of detail varies. Write one row for each operation, in the order it will be performed.

Start with the part number and name, drawing revision, date, material and raw stock size: the starting piece before machining or cutting. Use actual dimensions and units. A material family alone is not a purchasing specification; identify the material needed for this part.

What belongs in each operation row
FieldWhat the next person needs
OperationAn action and its intended result, such as drill two through holes.
Equipment and setup/toolingThe equipment, cutting tool, support, holding method and reference face or edge.
Process parametersSettings with units, or an identified approved setup instruction. Do not write an unexplained number for speed or feed.
Setup and cycle timeTime to prepare the operation, separate from time to repeat it on one part.
Pass/fail criteria and inspection toolsThe required result, permitted limits and how to measure or compare it.

Keep quality checkpoints, failed-part decisions, actual times and improvement notes with the sheet. Equipment permission and operating procedures still come from Equipment Operating Procedure; a method sheet is not machine training.

Establish reference surfaces before locating features

Establish reference surfaces before locating features

Choose the order around what each later step needs. Make a straight, square reference edge before measuring hole locations from it. Make features while there is enough material to support and hold the work. Inspect a feature before the next step hides it.

Planning sequence: establish references, locate and make features, separate if needed, finish, then inspect. Preserve enough stock for holding throughout.

This is a planning pattern, not a mandatory route for every part.

Holes may be easier to make before small parts are cut free from a larger piece. Final finishing usually follows cutting and drilling, so those operations do not damage the finished surface. Inspect afterward too: finishing can change dimensions.

Supporting detail: Addendum 3 — Why there is no universal operation order.

Worked method sheet: a hanging display label

Worked method sheet: a hanging display label

Original teaching example, not a production release. Part DL-01, display label plate, revision A. Material: birch plywood, starting blank 110 × 50 × 6 mm. Finished dimensions and acceptance limits are on the example drawing. Two purchased cord loops complete the assembly in Bills of Materials. No coating is specified.

This hand-tool route uses a supported blank, a fine-tooth handsaw, a drill press and sanding blocks. An actual shop must qualify its tooling and record machine settings before releasing the plan. The times below are invented planning estimates, not measured performance.

DL-01 revision A — route and inspection
OperationEquipment, setup and parametersPass/fail check and tool
10 — Establish edges and trimBench, clamps, handsaw and sanding block. Support the blank; establish straight bottom edge B and left edge L square to it. Mark the final outline from B and L, saw outside it, then sand to the lines.Calipers: length 99–101 mm; width 39–41 mm; thickness 5.5–6.5 mm. Try square: no visible gap along the checked edges against the blade. Reject split or separated plywood layers.
20 — Locate two hole centersRule, square and marking tool. From L mark x = 15 and 85 mm; from B mark y = 20 mm for both. Keep the same references for both holes.Rule and square: confirm both marks against the drawing before drilling; this layout check does not replace finished-hole measurement.
30 — Drill throughDrill press, 4.5 mm wood-cutting bit, backing board and clamped work. Record the qualified spindle speed in rpm and the approved drilling setup before use.Hole diameter 4.3–4.7 mm using suitable plug gauges; hole-center x and y coordinates within ±0.5 mm of the drawing using calipers and measured hole diameter. No splits at the holes.
40 — Finish and inspectSanding block, example sequence 120 then 180 grit. Remove loose fibers at edges and hole mouths without enlarging holes beyond their limits.Visual inspection: no loose fibers, splits or separated layers. Recheck dimensions and hole limits using the tools above.
50 — Add two cord loopsHand assembly. Thread one purchased closed loop through each hole, then pass the rest of that loop through its emerging end to form a hitch. Seat both hitches alike.Visual comparison: two closed loops present, one through each hole, each hitched around the plate edge with no loose cut end. This is a display example, not a load-rated hanger.
Planning time per operation, minutes
OperationSetup per batchCycle per assembly
1035
2012
3042
4013
5011
Total1013

For three assemblies, the serial estimate is 10 + (3 × 13) = 49 minutes, assuming each setup is done once and all operations run one after another. Record waiting, interruptions and repeated setups separately when comparing with actual elapsed time.

Replace “make it right” with an action and an acceptance test; Checklist; Practice

Replace “make it right” with an action and an acceptance test

“Drill the holes neatly” leaves the next person guessing. “Drill two through holes at the drawing coordinates; check diameter and location against revision A” gives an action and a result, but still needs the equipment, support, tooling and settings in the row.

Pass means every stated criterion is met. Fail means identify and hold the part for a decision; do not quietly send it to the next operation. Rework is a specified additional operation that can bring the part into conformance. Removing more material cannot restore an undersize outside dimension or shrink an oversize hole.

  • Match the part, drawing and method-sheet revisions.
  • Check that every operation names equipment, tooling, holding and references.
  • Fill required settings with units before releasing the plan.
  • Give every quality checkpoint a measurable limit or an explicit comparison and an inspection method.
  • Define who decides rework or rejection when a check fails.

Practice operation order Find an incomplete step

Record what changed so the next batch can repeat the improvement

Record what changed so the next batch can repeat the improvement

Record setup time once per setup and cycle time per piece. State when each timer starts and stops; include inspection consistently. Keep quantity attempted, quantity accepted, scrap count and rework count. A reworked part may later pass, so these counts are not all separate groups to add together.

For each trial, record material identity, tool, setting and units, holding arrangement, actual measurements and the problem observed. A useful photo shows the reference edge, stop or tool position; caption it with the operation and revision. Use photos you have permission to share, with no personal information.

Example improvement record — a proposed trial, not a claimed result
ObservationChange to testEvidence to keep
Hole locations vary between pieces.Use the same reference edges and a verified locating stop instead of re-marking from different edges.Record each hole location before and after the change, batch size, setup time and rejects. Keep the acceptance limits unchanged.

Change one factor at a time where practical. Verify the first piece after a setup change before repeating it through a batch. If the change helps, update the method-sheet revision and keep the evidence. A faster operation that produces more rejects is not automatically an improvement.

Materials and Manufacturing Processes/Manufacturing Documentation

Making Silicone Molds from a Printed Pattern

Plan a one-part mold, document the product-specific mixing and curing conditions, and inspect a repeatable batch of castings.

A printed pattern defines the cavity in the silicone mold; Interactive; Practice

A printed pattern defines the cavity in the silicone mold

A pattern is the original shape copied by a mold. For a simple one-part, open-face mold, use a shape with a flat back and features that can be withdrawn through the opening. An original example is a small decorative relief tile with a flat back, gently sloping sides and no hooked details.

For a small batch of resin replicas, this is a casting task: liquid resin fills the mold cavity and cures. A fiber-reinforced shell made by wet hand layup builds layers of reinforcing fabric or mat with resin against a mold. Compare these routes in Plastic Forming Processes, then use Choosing a Plastic Forming Process to weigh material, geometry, quantity and tooling. Try the detailed-replica and reinforced-shell practice choices.

Draft is a slight taper that helps a part leave the mold. Let the shape widen toward the opening. A flat parting face, where the pattern meets the mold-box base, defines the open back of this mold. Avoid undercuts that hook behind the silicone; flexibility does not make every trapped shape removable.

A wide mouth does not rule out an interior hook. This illustrative model uses an exact-fit, centered, symmetric rigid 2D pattern and rigid cavity. Opening depth is 0; positive depth points down into the mold. The only permitted motion is outward translation upward at fixed orientation, into unobstructed space. Units are arbitrary consistent diagram units.

Hypothetical pose · pull 5Outward ↑Depth 0openingDepth 40 ↓ into mold
Hypothetical local-shoulder pose at outward pull 5. The original depth-25 section moves to cavity depth 20: pattern half-width 26 meets cavity half-width 22, a geometric overlap of 4 per side. Outlined bands and × marks locate interference; this is not physical passage through rigid material.
Exact piecewise-linear sections: stations are (depth, half-width)
ProfileStationsTrial pull 5Whole path
Taper(0,30), (40,20)1.25 side separationNo positive interference
Parallel(0,25), (40,25)Side contactNo positive interference; contact persists
Reverse taper(0,20), (40,30)1.25 interference per sideBlocked
Local shoulder(0,30), (20,22), (25,26), (40,15)Maximum 4 interference per side at depth 20Blocked despite widest mouth

At cavity depth d, an outward pull t places pattern half-width w(d+t) against cavity half-width w(d). Positive Δ(d) = w(d+t) − w(d) means overlap. For the local shoulder at t = 5, the positive interval is (50/3, 520/23), approximately (16.6667, 22.6087); endpoints are zero-contact boundaries.

The continuous path requires width to be nonincreasing with depth. A deeper section wider than a shallower section provides an obstruction. For each pose, Δ is linear between original and translated knots; checking these knots and solving zero crossings is analytical, not an animation-frame test. At t = 0 every profile is in initial contact. At t = 40 there is no interior overlap, but the reverse taper and local shoulder still have blocked paths: a clear endpoint does not prove a reachable endpoint.

Comparisons use a numerical threshold of 64 × machine epsilon × maximum half-width, separate from physical clearance and manufacturing tolerance. Values within that floating-point threshold are treated as contact. This is geometric interference only: it omits friction, adhesion, shrinkage, forces, damage, cure, rotation, lateral motion, deformation and unshown 3D features. No-interference does not establish practical release; a rigid obstruction does not establish flexible-silicone failure.

Cross-section sequence: printed pattern with flat back on the box base; silicone cured around it; mold inverted and pattern removed; casting material fills the open cavity. The cavity widens toward its opening.

The mold copies the pattern's surface. Smooth and inspect the print before making the mold.

Remove unwanted layer ridges and support marks without losing important dimensions. Choose pattern preparation, any sealer and any release agent for the specific print, silicone and casting material. Follow the manufacturers' compatibility instructions and test a small prepared sample before committing the full mold.

Read the technical data sheet before choosing a mix or cure schedule; Checklist

Read the technical data sheet before choosing a mix or cure schedule

The technical data sheet (TDS) supplies processing instructions. The safety data sheet (SDS) supplies handling information; use Chemicals and Safety Data Sheets for that guidance. Neither a generic lesson nor a familiar-looking container replaces the instructions for the actual product.

  • Record the silicone product, batch identification and technical-sheet revision.
  • Record the A:B ratio and whether it is by mass (weight) or by volume.
  • Record working time, mixing procedure, bubble-removal requirements and cure conditions.
  • Check compatibility with the printed pattern, coatings, release agent and intended casting material.
  • Complete a small compatibility trial and inspect its cure before the full pour.

Working time is the available time to mix and place the material under stated conditions. It is not the demolding time. Cure instructions may distinguish demolding from full properties or further treatment. Record the actual temperature and times; do not substitute a universal overnight wait.

Supporting detail: Addendum 4 — Where to find product-specific instructions.

A ratio by weight is not automatically a ratio by volume; Interactive; Practice

A ratio by weight is not automatically a ratio by volume

Read what the given mass represents. These invented A/B examples teach arithmetic for two-component materials; they are not silicone or resin recipes. For A:B = a:b by mass and target total material mass M, mA = M a/(a+b) and mB = M b/(a+b). If A is already measured, mB = mA b/a.

Same 10:1 mass specification, different meaning of 220 g
GivenABMaterial total
220 g target total200 g20 g220 g
220 g of A alone220 g22 g242 g

Density connects mass and each component’s own volume: VA = mA/ρA and VB = mB/ρB. For a:b by volume, divide target total mass using weights aρA:bρB. For given A mass, VA = mA/ρA, VB = VA b/a, then mB = VBρB.

Use illustrative densities ρA = 1.2 g/mL and ρB = 0.8 g/mL with a 300 g target total:

Changing the basis while keeping 2:1 changes the specification
A:B specificationA mass / volumeB mass / volume
2:1 by mass200 g / 500/3 mL (≈166.6667 mL)100 g / 125 mL
2:1 by volume225 g / 187.5 mL75 g / 93.75 mL

The first row has a 4:3 component-volume ratio; the second has a 3:1 mass ratio. Those are equivalent descriptions of their respective batches. Converting 300 g to 0.3 kg keeps the same physical batch. Switching 2:1 from mass to volume does not. Individual component volumes do not establish mixed/cured volume, yield or cavity fill.

Ideal cumulative scale example: for 200 g A + 20 g B in a 35 g container, readings with no tare are 35 g empty → 235 g after A → 255 g after B. Tare once with the empty container on the scale and the readings are 0 g → 200 g → 220 g. The final reading includes A and B; B alone is 20 g. Container mass changes the gross reading, not the material ratio. This comparison does not re-tare after A.

Weigh with a scale suitable for the actual quantities and follow the product’s specified ratio basis, measurement and mixing procedure. The arithmetic assumes no material loss; it predicts no cure, exotherm, working time, compatibility or actual mixed/cured volume. The actual product’s TDS/SDS remain authoritative.

Practice a total-mass mix Practice a given-A mix

Document pattern preparation, pouring and cure as separate operations

Document pattern preparation, pouring and cure as separate operations

  1. Prepare the pattern and box. Inspect the print, complete the qualified surface treatment, secure its flat back to the box base, and check that the box contains the liquid. Set wall and backing thickness from the mold material and geometry requirements.
  2. Measure and mix. Record actual A and B quantities, the ratio basis and the start time. Follow the product's mixing instructions, including its directions for reaching material at the container walls and bottom.
  3. Reduce trapped air. Follow the product's bubble-removal and pouring instructions. A controlled pour into a low point can let the material rise around the pattern instead of repeatedly trapping air over its details. Vacuum degassing is product- and equipment-dependent; do not assume every silicone requires it or has enough working time for it.
  4. Cure and remove the pattern. Record temperature, elapsed time and the specified demolding condition. Inspect the mold surface and details after removal before using the cavity.
  5. Make a first casting. Follow the casting material's own mixing, release and cure instructions. Its ratio and timing need not match the silicone's. Inspect the first piece before repeating the batch.

Use Operation Method Sheets to give each operation equipment, settings, timing and a pass/fail check. Record what actually happened, including a changed pour method or a delayed demold, rather than copying the planned values into the result column.

Inspect each casting for voids, dimensions and consistency

Inspect each casting for voids, dimensions and consistency

A void is an unintended empty region. Inspect visible faces, edges and small details for pits, missing material and incomplete filling. A good exterior does not prove that the interior has no voids; choose further inspection according to the part's function.

Define batch checks before casting
CheckWhat to document
Shape and dimensionsDrawing limits, measurement method and actual readings for critical features.
Visible surfaceWhich faces matter and what counts as a reject. For a teaching relief tile, an example criterion is no visible pits or missing raised detail on the display face.
Cure and releaseProduct-specific acceptance condition; any tacky region, tearing or distortion observed on removal.
Batch consistencyCasting number, material batch, measured charge, mixing and cure times, appearance, dimensions, rejects and rework.

If a defect repeats at the same position, inspect the corresponding mold feature. If it varies between pours, compare the recorded process conditions. These are starting points for investigation, not proof of a cause. Change one factor, make a trial, and retain the results before revising the approved method.

Supporting detail

Addendum

Additional evidence, standards context, and background referenced from the main text.

  1. Materials and Manufacturing Processes/Manufacturing Documentation/Critical Dimensions for the Shop

    Addendum 1. How to check a center when a caliper touches the hole edge

    Measure from the reference edge to the nearest hole edge, then add half the measured hole diameter to obtain that center coordinate. Use the same reference and direction as the drawing. This example does not specify a precision pin fit; a more demanding interface needs a more capable measurement method and a reviewed tolerancing scheme.

    The nominal hole spacing is 70 mm, derived from 85 − 15. The separate ±0.5 mm x-coordinate limits can allow spacing from 69 to 71 mm. If an interface needs a tighter spacing, the designer must change the requirements; the inspector must not invent a tighter limit.

    Back to reference 1

  2. Materials and Manufacturing Processes/Manufacturing Documentation/Bills of Materials

    Addendum 2. Consumption, purchase cost and batch yield answer different questions

    You may need to buy a whole sheet even when one part uses a small fraction. That purchase is a cash requirement; the allocated fraction is the material estimate for the part. For a batch that consumes the entire stock unit, dividing its cost by the number of acceptable parts includes the loss from rejected pieces. Avoid charging the same waste once in the allocated share and again as an added allowance.

    Back to reference 2

  3. Materials and Manufacturing Processes/Manufacturing Documentation/Operation Method Sheets

    Addendum 3. Why there is no universal operation order

    A feature may become inaccessible after assembly; a coating may need to be applied first. A larger blank may help holding, but its final cut must preserve the reference used for the holes. Record the reason for a departure from the usual sequence. The five process categories describe kinds of change, not a fixed order.

    Back to reference 3

  4. Materials and Manufacturing Processes/Manufacturing Documentation/Making Silicone Molds from a Printed Pattern

    Addendum 4. Where to find product-specific instructions

    Start with the manufacturer's product documentation, such as Smooth-On's technical bulletin and SDS directory. Its printed-pattern compatibility FAQ is a further-reading lead when investigating an uncured surface against a resin print. Check the complete instructions for the particular materials before selecting a treatment.

    Back to reference 4