Advice Needed on Making Mold for Complex Part

[Chris Moliere]

I'm in the process of trying to design a mold for a complex part, this globe for a gumball machine used on a puppet I'm in the process of building. However, I've run into some complications, due to the design of the part. It's hollow, but it has to be a specific thickness, and due to the interior structure of the part making a mold of the inside would be difficult, if not impossible. In order to make it exact, there's also a seam inside the piece that needs to be replicated, so making a mold of the inside is a necessity. I've attached some photos to explain the part's design. Any ideas on how to make a mold that would replicate these requirements would be greatly appreciated!

 

[smithjohnj]

You will need to mold the globe in two parts, just like the original was made. Separate top and bottom hemispheres. Each is then a much simpler object to mold and cast. The seam is where the two halves are joined together. Is there a reason you do not want to just buy a plastic gumball machine/toy of the proper size instead of casting one of your own?

 

[doppelganger]

Yep as smithjohnj said above, make in in 2 pieces or look at half spneres on somewhere like ebay as they may have the exact size you are after.

 

[Chris Moliere]

You will need to mold the globe in two parts, just like the original was made. Separate top and bottom hemispheres. Each is then a much simpler object to mold and cast. The seam is where the two halves are joined together. Is there a reason you do not want to just buy a plastic gumball machine/toy of the proper size instead of casting one of your own?

That's the problem I'm trying to fix. This gumball machine is nearly impossible to find nowadays. They still make a variation of it with a vertical seam instead of horizontal, so if the globes are replicated then the issue can be fixed.

 

[LimeyBuilds]

Not sure how easy something like this will be without injection molding.