#  Make top mold 

 



 ##  

  expand\_more  

 
  

 

Now we will make the 2nd mold half, once again using the Cavity feature. We make a solid rectangular block, then subtract both the actuator and the main mold piece from it. Once again, we make the basic part, then assemble it to properly position everything relative to each other, then use **Cavity.**

## Make top mold block

\[[Video: Make top mold block](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIYkCTCNlVs)\]

In the top plane, draw a 6.5 mm x 29 mm rectangle. **Extrude** it 169mm to get a long, thin rectangular prism. Save the part.

   ![mt1.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum4601/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/sorotoolkit/files/mt1.png?itok=3Y8dVBqE) 

 

   ![mt2.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum4601/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/sorotoolkit/files/mt2.png?itok=CVgZ__Ku) 

 

## Align all parts

\[[Video: Make interim assembly for top mold](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhkjv4IMdqo)\]

Create another new assembly and save it as the interim assembly for the mold top. Insert 2 components: the thin block you just created, and the previous interim assembly. Position the components with 3 coincident mates (top, side, front).

 ![image58_1](/sites/g/files/omnuum4601/files/2024-11/image58_1.png)

 

 ![image59_0](/sites/g/files/omnuum4601/files/2024-11/image59_0.png)

 

 ![image60_crop](/sites/g/files/omnuum4601/files/2024-11/image60_crop.png)

 

The result should look like this:

 ![image6_1](/sites/g/files/omnuum4601/files/2024-11/image6_1.png)

 

## Subtract actuator and main mold

\[[Video: Cavity for top mold](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0C7e8WRP-0)\]

 ![image61_crop_marked](/sites/g/files/omnuum4601/files/2024-11/image61_crop_marked.png)

 

Once again, click on the mold part in the design tree and click the “Edit Part” button.

Use **Cavity** (Insert > Features > Cavity). Once again, expand the design tree and select the component you want to subtract, in this case it’s the first interim assembly for the main mold. However, since you cannot select assemblies, expand the tree further and select the two parts (main mold and actuator) that make up the main mold assembly.

 ![image62_0](/sites/g/files/omnuum4601/files/2024-11/image62_0.png)

 

 ![image63_0](/sites/g/files/omnuum4601/files/2025-05/image63_0.png)

 

Click the checkmark to complete the cavity, and click the “Edit Component” button to return to the assembly.

 ![image64_0](/sites/g/files/omnuum4601/files/2024-11/image64_0.png)

 



 

##  Bibliography 

Galloway et al. (2013) [Mechanically programmable bend radius for fiber-reinforced soft actuators](/publications/mechanically-programmable-bend-radius-fiber-reinforced-soft-actuators).

Maeder-York et al. (2014) [Biologically Inspired Soft Robot for Thumb Rehabilitation](/publications/biologically-inspired-soft-robot-thumb-rehabilitation).

Connolly et al. (2015) [Mechanical Programming of Soft Actuators by Varying Fiber Angle](/publications/mechanical-programming-soft-actuators-varying-fiber-angle)

Connolly et al. (2016) [Automatic Design of Fiber-Reinforced Soft Actuators for Trajectory Matching](http://softroboticstoolkit.com/publications/automatic-design-fiber-reinforced-soft-actuators-trajectory-matching)



 

##  Contributors 

Panagiotis Polygerinos

Kevin Galloway

Zheng Wang

Fionnuala Connolly

Johannes T B Overvelde

Harrison Young