Chocolate Mold Failure

[James Jaragosky]

Ooops, forgot to add I do the 2nd(different DPI) pass slightly out of focus as well. Definitely helps!

I made some molds for a local soap maker. I had similar release problems. I switched to a .5 thick Teflon product, nothing sticks to it.

[Dan Hintz]

I made some molds for a local soap maker. I had similar release problems. I switched to a .5 thick Teflon product, nothing sticks to it.

Be very careful with this... Teflon, if heated high enough to burn it off (around 600F+, becomes a wonderful cancer-causing agent when breathed in.

[James Jaragosky]

Be very careful with this... Teflon, if heated high enough to burn it off (around 600F+, becomes a wonderful cancer-causing agent when breathed in.

The soap never reaches temperatures over 200F
and I think chocolate burns at even lower temperatures.
Infact I believe that the chocolate mold is usually refrigerated not cooked.

[Richard Rumancik]

James, I think Dan is concerned with lasering Teflon, not the soap/chocolate temperature. Or did you machine the molds on a CNC mill? That's a different ballgame. So while Teflon may be a solution for a machined mold, it is not advisable to laser Teflon.

[James Jaragosky]

James, I think Dan is concerned with lasering Teflon, not the soap/chocolate temperature. Or did you machine the molds on a CNC mill? That's a different ballgame. So while Teflon may be a solution for a machined mold, it is not advisable to laser Teflon.

I machined them. but with the fumex system I have hooked to my laser I am not worried about the toxic fumes.
thanks for setting me straight.

[Richard Rumancik]

Dee, take a look at this site that makes molds for chocolates:

http://customcandymolds.com/productinformation.html

Scroll down and you will see that they laser their patterns out of extruded acrylic. (A pattern is the opposite of a mold.)

Looks like they make the patterns, then vacuum form the FDA-approved film over the pattern. Not sure of the film material but you could proably find out. You could probably use a food grade PETG (like soda bottles).

The hitch is coming up with a low-cost vacuum forming technique. If interested in this path, find a copy of this book: "Do it Yourself Vacuum Forming for the Hobbyist" by Douglas Walsh.

This two-step method probably takes more work and equipment than you had hoped.

Engraving the mold directly (instead of making a pattern to make a mold) is obviously easier, if you can find a process and material that works. If you want to use the direct method, I think the two-piece mold has the best chance of success.

There is probably a market for custom chocolates for Wedding and Anniversary receptions, etc.

[Mike Null]

The problem chocolate makers have with vacuum formed molds is that they can't get the detail they want.

Dee

try cornstarch as your release agent.

[Scott Challoner]

Dee

Another thing to minimize raster lines is to use a texture fill instead of just black. If I'm engraving a large area, I usually use stucco. You can go to the advanced setting and change the two levels of black. I usually use 100% and 70%. Then engrave in 3d. I also lower the table by .80" to .100". You end up with kind of a sand cast appearance. I imagine if you want a smoother look, you make the two numbers closer together. I think the de-focusing is the key.

HTH

[Chris Tatarian]

I would laser engrave a reverse image and cast it out of food grade RTV. Silicone will release food much easier than a more solid mold. Repeatablity is much more robust.

Chris Tatarian

[Mike Null]

Chris

I agree with your idea. In fact when trying to find a solution for a local candy maker I ordered some. Like many things I haven't got around to trying it yet.

[Rob Bosworth]

James, you NEED to be VERY careful cutting teflon. When the teflon is laser cut, it releases TFE's, which is some really bad stuff to breath. You don't want to breath it.

A number of years ago, The Queen and I were sitting out on a deck overlooking the palatial estate, having an adult beverage, enjoying the evening. We knew the boys were downstairs with some buddies. We heard the exhaust blower start up, and we both just grinned thinking how cool is that that the 11 and 13 year old were comfortable enough with the machines that they could run them and do something with them. Maybe 30 seconds later, we were deathly sick, and were having trouble breathing. I ran downstairs to figure out what was going on. Turns out they were engraving their names on ping pong paddles. The "sponge" on the paddles were made out of a teflon. The nausea and breathing difficulties went away in a couple of hours. But we certainly are more careful as to what we laser since then.

[James Jaragosky]

James, you NEED to be VERY careful cutting teflon. When the teflon is laser cut, it releases TFE's, which is some really bad stuff to breath. You don't want to breath it.

A number of years ago, The Queen and I were sitting out on a deck overlooking the palatial estate, having an adult beverage, enjoying the evening. We knew the boys were downstairs with some buddies. We heard the exhaust blower start up, and we both just grinned thinking how cool is that that the 11 and 13 year old were comfortable enough with the machines that they could run them and do something with them. Maybe 30 seconds later, we were deathly sick, and were having trouble breathing. I ran downstairs to figure out what was going on. Turns out they were engraving their names on ping pong paddles. The "sponge" on the paddles were made out of a teflon. The nausea and breathing difficulties went away in a couple of hours. But we certainly are more careful as to what we laser since then.

Bob I currently use this as my filter system. http://fumexinc.thomasnet.com/item/air-filtration-systems/fa1-mini-air-filtration-system/item-1001?&forward=1
I will take your warning to heart. You can never be too careful.

[Martin Boekers]

Dee, interesting! So many ideas.

I did a quick search on mold making and found this.

Of all people Martha Stewart had a chef on who came up with a mold base.
This looks cool and easy to do. We can make the laser template than easily make a silicon food safe mold.


http://www.makeyourownmolds.com/videos

There is a bunch of things out there on the actual making of molds for candy soaps etc.

We have the template maker already in our hands.


Now if I only had more time!

Marty

[Dee Gallo]

Martin, I LOVE this site! Thanks for posting it, I'm sold on silicone already, it's one of my favorite materials all over my kitchen.

I can make the positive on my laser and make the mold out of this stuff! Yay!

Thank you thank you!!!

dee

[Mike Null]

Dee

some of the RTV suppliers will give you a free sample of silicon--enough to do quite a few molds. Just ask for food safe rtv. It's common.