How To Make Metal Molds Without A CNC Mill: Use INJEKTO M and MASTE
For decades, CNC mills have been the gold standard for creating high-quality metal molds, but their cost, complexity, and time-consuming nature have made them impractical for many, especially when you're trying to prototype designs. Now, with INJEKTO M and MASTE, you can create metal molds without a CNC mill—all you need is a 3D printer, RTV silicone, and this innovative system. Even better, once your molds are ready, they’re compatible with desktop plastic injection molding, including with our very own INJEKTO 2.0 desktop injection molding machine. Let’s explore how this revolutionary process works and why it’s a game-changer for creators.
A Better Way to Make Metal Molds
Traditional mold-making methods require significant resources, including CNC mills, machining expertise, and costly outsourcing. These challenges often limit innovation and accessibility for hobbyists, small businesses, and even some larger manufacturers.
With INJEKTO M and MASTE, you can bypass these limitations entirely, creating detailed metal molds that rival CNC-milled quality—quickly, affordably, and in-house.
The Process: How It Works
Here’s how you can create professional-grade metal molds and take your designs from concept to reality. If you're interested in watching a video instead, you can click here to view the process.
1. 3D Print the Negative of Your Part
Design the mold you want to create using CAD software, and print it exactly as you want it to come out but with a bounding box using your 3D printer. This mold with the bounding box serves as the basis for your silicone mold.2. Create a Silicone Mold
Pour a two-part RTV silicone into the 3D-printed mold to create a positive silicone mold. This silicone mold captures all the fine details of your design and serves as the mold for casting your metal-infused MASTE.3. Inject MASTE with INJEKTO M
Pour MASTE, our patent-pending metal paste, into INJEKTO M and wait a couple minutes for it to heat up. Then inject MASTE into the silicone mold using INJEKTO M. This step ensures precision as the molten MASTE fills every detail of the silicone mold, include fine details like small text. Allow the MASTE 5 minutes to cool, and then remove it from the mold as a single solid piece.4. Cure in a Furnace
To turn this MASTE part into a pure metal part, place it in the crucible and cover it with our patent-pending FUSION MIX. Place the filled crucible in a 1500W furnace to cure the MASTE. You can follow the temperatures and times provided on our website for your specific material. Once cured, the result is a durable, high-quality metal mold that is ready for production use.5. Plastic Injection Molding with INJEKTO 2.0
Your completed metal mold isn’t just for display—it’s ready for action. Use it for plastic injection molding to create your desired parts. One of the best options for this step is our INJEKTO 2.0 desktop injection molding machine, which allows you to produce high-quality plastic components efficiently and affordably.
Why INJEKTO M and MASTE Are Game-Changers
This process isn’t just an alternative to CNC milling—it’s a paradigm shift. Here’s why INJEKTO M and MASTE, paired with the INJEKTO 2.0, stand out:1. Cost-Effective
Eliminate the need for CNC mills and outsourcing services. With just a 3D printer, silicone, INJEKTO M, and MASTE, you can produce professional-grade metal molds at a fraction of the cost. Add the INJEKTO 2.0, and you have a complete, cost-effective in-house production setup.2. High Precision
MASTE’s metal-infused formula combined with INJEKTO M ensures fine detail retention, producing molds that match the quality of CNC-machined molds. The silicone mold acts as an intermediary, ensuring even complex designs are accurately reproduced.3. Flexibility
From intricate prototypes to small production runs, this process scales to meet your needs. Plus, the molds you create are versatile, working seamlessly with plastic injection systems like INJEKTO 2.0.4. Streamlined Workflow
By integrating mold-making and plastic injection, you can move from design to finished parts quickly and efficiently. Rapid iteration and on-demand production have never been easier.5. Accessibility
With tools like a 3D printer and silicone molds which are very easy to acquire, this process is approachable for hobbyists, startups, and established manufacturers alike. The inclusion of the INJEKTO 2.0 injection molding machine further lowers the barrier to entry for small-scale production and prototyping designs.
Applications and Benefits
This system is perfect for:
- Hobbyists: Create custom parts, tools, and artistic designs in both metal and plastic.
- Small Businesses: Produce plastic components for products with professional-quality molds.
- Engineers and Product Designers: Quickly iterate and test designs with both metal and plastic prototypes.
- Educators: Demonstrate end-to-end manufacturing processes in a hands-on, accessible way.
The Complete Solution: INJEKTO M, MASTE, and INJEKTO 2.0
With INJEKTO M and MASTE, you can create metal molds quickly and affordably. And with the INJEKTO 2.0 injection molding machine, you can take your mold-making capabilities even further, producing high-quality plastic parts in-house.
By combining these tools, you gain full control over the manufacturing process—reducing costs, accelerating timelines, and opening up endless creative possibilities.
