A Formlabs Form 3 and standard resin were used for this project, and a wide range of layer thicknesses was tested, ranging from 160 microns for early prototypes to 50 microns for the final design.

Mold making using 3D printing and a desktop pressure former

Once the template design is fully tested, production of the final design can start. For this project we went for a 10-piece mold, so only a limited amount of templates had to be made as they can be reused multiple times.

A custom rectangular shape was also 3D printed to create molds that matched in size with the ones that Paul A Young already had, helping him keep the creative space clean.

The molds were made using our Clear Sheets (PETG) as the transparency allows us to see the result before the bonbons are de-molded. Also, with the Multiplier you always make the exact number of molds needed. You don’t have to worry about minimum order quantities or over purchasing a mold. Make what you need, when you want to.

Watch the Mayku Multiplier product video on YouTube to learn more

How to use pressure formed molds for custom chocolate design

Once the molds are made, they are instantly ready to cast into, there is no waiting time like with outsourcing production or silicone mold manufacturing.

Chocolatier, Paul A. Young filled the beetle molds with tempered chocolate, removing the excess to create fillable chocolate beetle shells. A white chocolate ganache, coloured red was added for a dramatic cross-section and as a base for additional ingredients. The chocolates are then capped, scraped and left to harden.

Once set, the beetle chocolates are ready to de-mold with a simple tap. Correctly tempered chocolate will shrink as it sets, meaning that de-molding is straightforward and fast. Ensure you design templates with minimum undercuts for a Clear Sheets mold that works well and can easily be reused.

How to save time and money with custom molds using pressure forming

Creating custom chocolates for a customer takes a lot of time and resources. Traditional mold-making services are slow and have a high cost, reducing the profit margin and offering a suboptimal experience to the customer.

While traditional chocolate mold making services take weeks to make molds you don’t even have the chance to test, the Mayku Multiplier allows you to make them in days, controlling the creative process and allowing you to make changes quickly.

Forget about emails going back and forth with the mold manufacturer - that only increases the production costs of a single mold.

With the Mayku Multiplier, you can become your own mold manufacturer and won’t need to worry about minimum order quantities anymore.

How to find out more about the Mayku Multiplier

As a thank you to our community of makers, we're offering up to 50% off the Multiplier for our first machines. Each batch of pre-orders has a different discount offer, so be sure to purchaseASAP to save the most.

Got a few questions before you purchase? Our talented team of Mayku product specialists are on hand to answer all your queries. Otherwise you can reach out to @TeamMayku on social media or join our Forum.