Something experimental - A5000 mouse ball replacement.

[rubber_jonnie]

I guess you could try repeatedly dipping a steel ball in latex and then vulcanising it. I seem to remember that is how many of the original mouse balls were made.

I'll be honest, I have thought about doing that too, say with a 17mm or 18mm steel ball to allow for some depth in the latex coating.

I am also considering if it might be feasible to cast a 20mm resin ball with a 15mm ball bearing inside it.

[rubber_jonnie]

Ok, so I got round to attempting the mould making this weekend!!!

I stood the ball on a small piece of plastic to make the 'sprue' where I can pour in the epoxy once the mould is ready:

PXL_20230319_155300206.jpg

Mixed up the RTV moulding goo:

PXL_20230319_155304846.jpg

Then combined the two:

PXL_20230319_155442679.jpg

This is a first attempt and I do have enough for probably 3 moulding attempts.

I'm going to allow 24hrs for it to cure, I'm confident I got the mix ratio correct, it's 100-2 ratio by weight and I weighed it on some digital scales before mixing.

I'll report back on the results. And yes, I know there were bubbles, I've done some tapping around the periphery and most seem to have gone now.

[rubber_jonnie]

Progress!!

I gave the RTV about 60 hours to cure (Mostly because I forgot to check it :) ) and it's looking good now the original ball is removed:

PXL_20230321_113919256.jpg

Next up I need to try and pour some resin and see what's what :)

[Badwolf]

Great work so far. I love to see this kind of thing.

Nervously awaiting the next instalment! :)

BW

[rubber_jonnie]

Great work so far. I love to see this kind of thing.

Nervously awaiting the next instalment! :)

BW

Hopefully you won't have to wait long 😁

[rubber_jonnie]

@Badwolf

You're in luck, I poured the resin just before 0900 this morning :)

PXL_20230323_093841957.jpg

It will be a gel in 6 hours and I should be able to de-mould in 12 hours, full hardness is in 24 hours. I'll probably just leave it until tomorrow morning which'll be this time tomorrow. How exciting!!

[Badwolf]

What did you do today, daddy? Well, I vicariously enjoyed a bloke on the internet making his ball harden over the course of a day.

:shock:

BW

[rubber_jonnie]

What did you do today, daddy? Well, I vicariously enjoyed a bloke on the internet making his ball harden over the course of a day.

:shock:

BW

Ooooer missus!!

[HigashiJun]

full hardness is in 24 hours.

Could be quite misleading out of its context...

;)

[rubber_jonnie]

full hardness is in 24 hours.

Could be quite misleading out of its context...

;)

Crikey, you lot are a bit naughty this morning!!!