3D Printers in Mold Production: A Case Study on Concrete Mold Prototype Production

In the production of concrete prototype molds, plywood has been commonly used. These molds, due to their contact with the water in the concrete, often do not allow for repeated use and need to be reproduced. This shows that the mold production method is not sustainable. Nowadays, plastic-based molds are being produced, but these molds are made only in standard forms. Additionally, in all existing molds, details such as small indentations and protrusions cause difficulties during the cutting and joining of plywood and MDF, resulting in time loss for users. In plastic molds, creating such small details leads to very high costs. A mold material and production method that allows for reuse without deformation and can be easily produced will accelerate the research and development phase of concrete prototype-sample production. This study shows how solutions can be found for the problems encountered during the mold production process using 3D printers with PLA.