This is a tutorial to show you how you can create silicone finger tips for to cover the sensors and to add a terrific grip to your InMoov hand. These covers can also be used if you don’t have sensors.
You will need :
- Printed parts.
- Scissors.
- Silicon in a cartridge for bathroom or windows.
- OR two component silicon like Trecosil RTV 6007. (it’s the one I used)
- A clamp.
- Brush.
- Wax OR vaseline OR dish soap.
Brush, wax or vaseline or dish soap on the parts of the mold. The best is wax. This will help to avoid adherance of the silicone to the ABS or PLA.
Let the dish soap dry well before going to next step.
Use a clamp to assemble the mold together. There is two holes of 3mm to add pins if you want to align the mold correctly. (Not shown on pictures)
You can use bathroom or windows silicone cartridge. Take something that dries fast. The cartridge silicone cures with air and humidity, so it will take a while to cure correctly in the mold. The ideal is a two component silicone because it cures with a hardener and can be accelerated up to a few minutes. It is what I used, but for the tuto I’m showing a cartridge.
Fill up to half each finger with the silicone.
Add and press firmly the third part of the mold, ensure that you put it in the correct way. (Thumb in thumb…)
When you press the exceeding silicone should come out a little bit from everywhere, so don’t do this on your bed or on grandma’s napkin.
Let the silicone cure. Some silicone might take a week to dry out.
Depending of your silicone curation time, open the mold carefully with a small screwdriver.
Carefull, the silicone is thin and can tear off easily, so be patient and handy.
You should have something like this.
With scissors cut the silicone between each finger. This will help to roll it out from each finger.
Carefull, the silicone is thin and can tear off easily, so be patient and handy.
Now take your best scissors to cut out the silicone excess as close as possible to the edge, without making a hole. 🙂
Measure the length you want to cover with the silicone and cut it cleanly before applying it on the finger.
Remember there is a nail side.
That’s it your InMoov is ready to grab and pick up stuff.