Something experimental - A5000 mouse ball replacement.

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, so I have had another go:

IMG20240724102058.jpg (203.82 KiB) Viewed 705 times

Should have the proportions of resin to hardener correct this time, so lets see what happens.

[HigashiJun]

[rubber_jonnie]

Resin has already set further than the last time

[HigashiJun]

Resin has already set further than the last time

Sounds good !

[rubber_jonnie]

Resin has already set further than the last time

Sounds good !

Indeed it does.

[HigashiJun]

Let's wait and see what the result will be.

Just hope you are close to the goal !

[stephen_usher]

[rubber_jonnie]

Yes to that.

[rubber_jonnie]

So, it's gone a bit better but still needs work. The mix was perfect, so that is something, fully set already this morning:

IMG20240725092508.jpg (220.17 KiB) Viewed 629 times

It isn't without issues though:

IMG20240725092540.jpg (144.83 KiB) Viewed 629 times

Unfortunately the blue cube mould got an air bubble in it at the fill hole, however the finish and weight of the cast ball was pretty good, and I can try again, but now just need to be sure I have a process to avoid air bubbles.

The spherical mould worked well from a size/weight perspective, however the alignment was poor leaving a lot of flashing on the edge:

IMG20240725092524.jpg (143.56 KiB) Viewed 629 times

For reference I weighed some of the mice ball replacements I have, plus actual balls, results below.

20mm steel ball:

IMG_20240725_093032.jpg (277.46 KiB) Viewed 629 times

20mm delrin ball:

IMG20240725093057.jpg (228.75 KiB) Viewed 629 times

22mm mouse ball

IMG20240725093231.jpg (258.47 KiB) Viewed 629 times

Hand rolled 'Milliput' (Epoxy filler):

IMG20240725093117.jpg (249.74 KiB) Viewed 629 times

20mm rubber ball:

IMG20240725093130.jpg (225.96 KiB) Viewed 629 times

20mm resin only ball:

IMG20240725093150.jpg (267.03 KiB) Viewed 629 times

20mm resin/iron powder composite ball from spherical mould:

IMG20240725093204.jpg (261.12 KiB) Viewed 629 times

20mm resin/iron powder composite ball from the blue cube mould made by me:

IMG20240725093219.jpg (233.12 KiB) Viewed 629 times

I think the other ball from the spherical mould is representative of the finished weight of the blue cube ball if it wasn't missing a piece given the air bubble it suffered.

Given the weight of the 22mm mouse ball, I think that 20mm composite ball is really quite close weight wise and far better then the other offerings, such as rubber or delrin, and the steel is rather too heavy.

I think I will give the blue cube another go, and I may also try making a new mould from the 20mm steel ball in which I can suspend a smaller steel ball and pour RTV silcone round it like a normal ball.

[stephen_usher]

Is there any way that you can put the resin into a syringe and inject it from the base of the mould so that you don't risk getting the filler hole blocked by a bubble?