Ice Sphere Maker

thingiverse

Create a two-part aluminum mold to craft perfect 55mm ice spheres for drinks. The mold features three 3D printable components that make up the internal ejector mechanism. You can easily switch to making different shapes, such as a Death Star or Minecraft-inspired sphere, or even Scrat's acorn from Ice Age. Check out this other homemade ice mold video for reference (not mine) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ey3t5dewDg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ey3t5dewDg</a>. See a simulation of machining the parts in CAM software here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN2oOIItN0k">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN2oOIItN0k</a> and here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDgAqggMMok">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDgAqggMMok</a>. In an update, new ejector parts were created, including a thinner push-disc.stl with a 5.1mm hole for easier rod insertion and a slightly thicker push-elipse.stl also with a 5.1mm hole for better turning. A new handle was designed, featuring vectorized Ice Age logo. The pom-slider now has a 6mm hole replaced with a 5.1mm hole and a 1.5mm chamfer on the inner hole. Four sets of these molds will be made as Christmas gifts. If you have any suggestions, comments, or design changes, please leave them below. The machining process requires a CNC lathe with a C axis for the 100mm aluminum mold. The top and bottom sphere halves are turned on the lathe, while the steering rods are indexed at 180-degree angles between the top and bottom. All movable parts rely on 5mm rods and small 3D printed plastic parts for ejecting the ice sphere. The required parts include: pom-slider.stl (OD10mm, ID5mm pom delrin slider to reduce friction on 5mm rods, length 15mm); ice-sphere-bottom.stl (OD98mm, length 100mm, half 55mm sphere, and 2 x 5mm holes with a pitch circle diameter of 75); ice-sphere-top.stl (OD98mm, length 100mm, the second half of the sphere with 2 x 10mm and 2 x 6mm holes with a shared pitch circle diameter of 75); push-elipse.stl (3D print, part of internal ejector, glue a 5mm x 60mm rod in center hole); push-disc.stl (3D print, part of internal ejector, glue a 5mm x 20mm rod in center hole); handle.stl (3D print, part of internal ejector, glue onto the 60mm long rod); and ice-sphere-mould.stl (3D print, fill with distilled water, and freeze to create a crystal clear ice cylinder, sphere is 55mm wide, end of rounded edge on ice cylinder are 53mm).