Dumb Mold Question

[Mudhut Jollyrancher]

for minor changes in a mold, like what nimh did with their souls and cuffs
would you have to buy a brand new mold?

[Alex Coe]

for minor changes in a mold, like what nimh did with their souls and cuffs
would you have to buy a brand new mold?

I don't think the question is clear. They bought a boot that was pre-made, a mold which anyone can buy. They didn't change it at all aside from cutting the toe off. I believe they molded their own cuffs and soles though, and by molded their own I, of course, mean they designed it and paid China for the work.

[Mudhut Jollyrancher]

for minor changes in a mold, like what nimh did with their souls and cuffs
would you have to buy a brand new mold?

I don't think the question is clear. They bought a boot that was pre-made, a mold which anyone can buy. They didn't change it at all aside from cutting the toe off. I believe they molded their own cuffs and soles though, and by molded their own I, of course, mean they designed it and paid China for the work.

i know that but when they redesigned the cuffs from the v1 to the v2 skate did they half to make and pay for a completely different mold?
i guess a better question would be what is done to create a mold?

[jakeordie]

Molds are usually machined out of big metal blocks. Minor changes to a molded part can sometimes be done with minor changes to the mold, kinda depends on the changes. If you're adding plastic to the molded part (making the sole wider for example) you just cut away a little more metal from the mold and redo the math.

But adding metal to the mold or changing complex profiles is probably not worth risking it. Molds are rarely owned outright, you need it to keep making parts to pay for itself. But the parts need to sell also, there needs to be something new every so often. It's a tough job for companies to get the balance right.

I think this is why colours are a big deal in rollerblading, and now smaller parts like sole frames or non-molded parts like liners & skins. It's a way to keep things new & selling, to pay for the molds. Still, I'd rather see skates like Remedyz and krbnz than generic shells all tarted up.

[Mudhut Jollyrancher]

Molds are usually machined out of big metal blocks. Minor changes to a molded part can sometimes be done with minor changes to the mold, kinda depends on the changes. If you're adding plastic to the molded part (making the sole wider for example) you just cut away a little more metal from the mold and redo the math.

But adding metal to the mold or changing complex profiles is probably not worth risking it. Molds are rarely owned outright, you need it to keep making parts to pay for itself. But the parts need to sell also, there needs to be something new every so often. It's a tough job for companies to get the balance right.

I think this is why colours are a big deal in rollerblading, and now smaller parts like sole frames or non-molded parts like liners & skins. It's a way to keep things new & selling, to pay for the molds. Still, I'd rather see skates like Remedyz and Carbons than generic shells all tarted up.

thanks i get it now

[lj_fanti]

i actually machine "molds". the actual term is a die. u use a CAD program to get all ur specs and the customer most of the time gives you a print as well. then you program your cnc, grab the big ass block thats getting machined out, n ur ready to rock! n u can go back and to whatever to it. even if you want shit smaller. you just weld in pieces where you want em then re-machine. i dont work with plastics tho. our dies are for aluminum or zinc alloy car parts for chrysler. id imagine plastics would b the same tho.

[d15]

where can anyone get a CAD program? do you have to buy it...or what? i would really like to start trying and getting experience using such software..

[USD_Dave]

I believe they molded their own cuffs

I don't think they did, the cuffs seems to be identical to the M12 cuffs apart from it has a buckle protector on both sides.

[jakeordie]

where can anyone get a CAD program? do you have to buy it...or what?

The engineers at Kizer use this one;

http://www.rhino3d.com

You can download a trial version for free.

[justinthursday]

I believe they molded their own cuffs

I don't think they did, the cuffs seems to be identical to the M12 cuffs apart from it has a buckle protector on both sides.

they are identical
no company would willingly make a cuff high in the back.
plus i compared them
only difference is those hooks and the buckles protectors

[d15]

where can anyone get a CAD program? do you have to buy it...or what?

The engineers at Kizer use this one;

http://www.rhino3d.com

You can download a trial version for free.

thanks A+++++. will respect again.

[Thisissoul]

I believe they molded their own cuffs

I don't think they did, the cuffs seems to be identical to the M12 cuffs apart from it has a buckle protector on both sides.

they are identical
no company would willingly make a cuff high in the back.
plus i compared them
only difference is those hooks and the buckles protectors

Look again. Roces and Nimh use different cuffs.

[Dagobert]

It's all about Solid Works.