Prototyping & Inventing
Product Concept - Prototype Development - Production
It all starts with an idea for an invention or product that you think has commercial potential. On your way to developing your idea, you will need a three dimensional physical representation before you go to production and that's where Smooth-On rubber, plastic and foam materials come in. Smooth-On materials have been the tools used to make prototype models for over 60 years and are still instrumental today in bringing the world's most amazing products to market.
Who Uses Smooth-On Materials To Make Prototype Models?
Our prototyping client list includes Apple Computer, Dell Computer, NASA, SONY, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, The US Army, Boeing, Advanced Medical Devices, Martin Guitar, Disney, Bose, Moen and thousands of other industry leaders around the world.
If you can imagine it, you can create it using Smooth-On rubbers, plastics and foams.
What People Have Done With These Materials
Custom Paw Pad Soap Mold from Prototype to Production
In order to grow the business, Jen realized she needed a custom branded soap mold.
Reeling in Customers with OOMOO Silicone Rubber
Jason and Jenny Wilhelm, owners of Dope on a Rope Soaps proudly share their mold making and casting process with us.
RepRap 3D Printer Parts Made with Smooth-Cast® ONYX™
3D printer parts made with Smooth-Cast ONYX and Mold Star 15 molds.
Moen Uses Smooth-On To Spark Development
Moen uses the full spectrum of Smooth-On tin and platinum-based silicone rubbers to develop and refine proposed design
Horse Hoof Treatment Using Equinox® Silicone Putties
Equine Digital Support System, Inc. is a company that specializes treating lower limb equine problems
The 'Royal Assault Team 357' Robot
Assisting School Age Kids To Excel In Science Competition With Smooth-On Materials
A Unique Application for Smooth-Cast® 326 Liquid Plastic
Rapid Technique LLC of England recently solved a daunting problem by using Smooth-Cast® 326 liquid plastic as a coating for their 3D prototypes.
Vacuum Forming Pattern for Space Application: TASK® 18 Demo
Parts that are vacuum formed touch our lives every day including consumer packaging and advertising signs (McDonalds & Burger King).
Crystal Clear® Resin used to Develop Trailer Hitch Novelty Item
Inventor Mike Gershwin of Evansville, IN, sat in traffic one day staring at the trailer hitch attached to the truck in front of him.
Red Buses of Glacier National Park Restored with Crystal Clear®
A recent Crystal Clear™ industrial application involved Ford Motor Company's restoration of "The Red Buses Of Glacier National Park" in Montana.
Reaching for New Heights with Smooth-Cast® 320 Liquid Plastic
Smooth-On has been a supplier to manufacturers of sports and recreational equipment for years. An example of such products involves Indoor Rock Climbing Gyms.
From Prototype to Reality: Concrete Finishing Slicks Success Story
After pouring thousands of tons of concrete to make a floor or platform, concrete finishers are called on to finish the concrete surface by smoothing out all surfaces.
A Pillow for the Masses
AC Worx Orthopedic, LLC of Crookston, Minnesota was recently developing a concept for an orthopedic pillow based on a design by a surgeon intended to alleviate pain for spinal cord injury patients.
Customer Spotlight – Sami Rahman
Father Sami Rahman creates contouring seat for son’s wheelchair.
Step-by-Step How-To Articles
Making Custom Foam Hollow Rocks for Outdoor Speakers
E-Z Spray® Expandable Foam Is Used To Create 'Hollow Rocks' to House Outdoor Speakers.
Venting a Silicone Mold to Eliminate Bubbles In Casting
This sequence chronicles Mr. Ross's process in successfully reproducing this model using an advanced mold making technique.
Adding Color Effects To a 3D Printed Part Using XTC-3D®
This video demonstrates how to use XTC-3D epoxy coating to smooth and apply color to a 3D printed architectural model.
Making a 2 Part Mold Using Mold Star® 15 Silicone
This video outlines the 2-part block mold making technique using silicone rubber.
Making a 2-Piece Mold Using OOMOO® Silicone
Mold box construction, model preparation and release agent application for a 2 part pour on mold are covered in this video.
How To Make a 1-Piece Silicone Cut Mold
Mold Star® 15 is perfect for experienced mold makers or people just starting out.
Smoothing the Surface of a 3D Printed Model Using XTC-3D®
In this video, XTC-3D® Epoxy is used to coat a 3D piece printed in PLA.
Quickly Adding a Metallic Finish to a 3D Print
This video shows how to make a 3D printed PLA object look like real metal using XTC-3D® epoxy.
How to Make a Silicone Mold of 3D Print
This video demonstrates how to use Mold Star 20T to make a silicone mold of extruded PLA.
