Manufacturing services · Chapter A · Method 01

Hand-made silicone moulds

Core TCI route

A master is fixed in a mould box and liquid silicone is poured over it. Ideal for one-off and short-run moulds with fine surface detail and deep undercuts.

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Pouring silicone over master patterns in a mould box. TCI workshop

Sketching a mould concept before the master is made. TCI workshop

How it works

Hand-made silicone moulds, step by step.

A labelled schematic of the process (not to scale), and the four steps every job goes through.

Labelled diagram showing how hand-made silicone moulds works — Schematic · not to scale. Drawn by TCI Group.

STEP 01

Master

Make or supply the pattern: printed, machined or an original object.

STEP 02

Mould box

Seal the master in a box; add vents and pour points.

STEP 03

Pour

Weigh, mix and de-air silicone, then pour from the lowest point.

STEP 04

Cure & demould

Cure, remove the master and trim the finished mould.

Reference figures

What to expect.

Typical industry values to help you plan. We agree the figures for your part on the drawing.

HardnessShore A 10–60Typical cast silicones

DetailFingerprint-levelReplicates master texture

Volume1–50 mouldsPer master, typical

ToleranceAgreed per projectFollows master and shrink

Materials	Platinum-cure (addition) silicones, including food-contact grades; tin-cure (condensation) silicones; polyurethane rubbers for abrasion-heavy duty.
Finishes	Matte, satin or gloss transferred from the master; textured masters give textured moulds. Pigmented to order.
Design guidance	Allow 10–15 mm silicone wall around the master for most moulds. Avoid trapped air pockets; add vents at high points. Match food-contact grade to the actual duty, not just the base datasheet.
Best suited to	Bakery, chocolate and confectionery moulds; decorative and architectural casting; prototype tooling.
Watch-outs	Mould life depends on the casting material and temperature. Large moulds need a rigid support jacket.

Other methods in Silicone & rubber

Next: Cast silicone tooling

Next step

Not sure this is the right route?

Send a sketch, photo, sample or CAD file with your quantity and target date. We will recommend the most sensible route and explain the trade-offs before quoting.

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Reference figures are typical published industry values for planning, not a guarantee; final tolerances, materials and finishes are agreed in writing for each project.