Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Making bellows

Ian Wright wrote:

> If you can find a suitable material which is liquid to start with you could
> use the technique they use for the odd shaped rubber hoses in aircraft and
> cars. There was a firm in one of the factory units I used to manage which
> made nothing else. They just modelled the shape of the hose in plaster of
> Paris on a thin steel rod then dipped the whole thing in their liquid
> (latex?) a few times (they put layers of scrim cloth on as well for
> strength). When it had all dried, they cured the rubber, trimmed the ends
> clean against the plaster and then removed the plaster form by clouting it
> with a hammer!

Yes, this is how medical catheters were made. The problem, of course,
is that oils turn natural Latex into a gummy mess. There might be some
silicone product that can be dip molded like latex, but I don't know of one.

(Medical catheters are not made of rubber much anymore because
people are becoming allergic to latex.)

Jon