The joint approach is based on the process for using Chem-Trend’s Ultra Purge brand of purge compounds, which is designed specifically to reduce colour-change time and carbon formation in hot runner systems.

[Steve] has other videos that cover more basic lures, but one covers a wavy split line cuttlefish analog and a four-tailed grub. The grub’s mold is in four parts and each part took six hours to print, so this isn’t a project for those of us with short attention spans.

The team devised a new guided procedure made easily accessible to operators within the Husky Altanium Mold Controller operator interface. The instructions outline a simple, yet highly effective approach to setting up and performing the colour-change process explicitly for moulds with hot runner systems.

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The 3D printing part is interesting, but it is also kind of neat to see the lures and the natural prey he uses for inspiration. If you want to catch fish, you have to use bait that looks like real food.

Every fisherman has a secret. A secret spot, a secret technique, or a secret bait. Maybe that’s why tying flies is so popular. [Steve] certainly has is own special lures, although he’s not keeping it a secret. (Video, embedded below.) He designs lures in Simplify3D, 3D prints molds, and then casts them.

Graziano Pestarino, Global Account Manager for thermoplastics solutions at Chem-Trend, added: “We know a lot is at stake for processors if the right purge compound and process are not used in colour changeovers amounting to significant time and cost. By combining our years of expertise in the field and our latest advancements in purging technology with that of Husky … plastics manufacturers stand to reap immense benefits of productivity and control previously unachievable.”

Mike Ellis, Global Business Manager for Husky Hot Runners and Controllers, said: “Fast and effective colour-change processes are essential for our customers, and we are continuing to see an upward trend in colour-change applications. Our collaboration with Chem-Trend and the integration with our Altanium Mold Controllers addresses this critical market requirement and enables our customers to achieve more efficient and effective colour-change performance.”

Chem-Trend and Husky aim to significantly enhance operational margins by increasing equipment and labour uptime. The collaboration reported an 85 per cent reduction in scrap and an 80 per cent increase in mould cleaning efficiency following early trials.

I think what you meant to say in the first paragraph is “designed in fusion 360, and sliced in simplify3d” As simplify 3d is a commercial/high end hobbyists slicing tool for fdm. Its not possible to do any 3d modeling/designwork in simplify3d.

I bought a PIM Shooter 150A off of Craigslist for quite a bit less than list price, and I have printed molds for polypropylene in ABS. It holds up ok. Not great – just ok. The PP melting point is close to ABS and every shot tends to degrade the mold more and more. I had tried to coat the mold in a thin layer of epoxy, and that certainly helped keep it together a bit longer. Ultimately, I think the best way to make molds with FDM is to print a positive and then cast a mold in resin in two halves.

Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd. has announced its collaboration with Chem-Trend on a system solution that creates repeatability during the critical colour-change process to offer a faster, more accurate, and optimised approach for operators.

We suppose these could be used with a drone fishing rig. In theory, you could use it for remote ice fishing, but we aren’t sure how you would jig it by remote control.

The plastic in use is Dead On Plastix brand “plastisol”. The color is an add-in, so you can create different color bait. In the video, you can see purple and green in the video. The results looked like something you might buy but — of course — better. There was some tweaking needed for one of the molds, but even with the mold that needed tweaking, the results looked fine.