3d Anime Mouse Pads: How are they made?

pittbull · Post by **pittbull** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 7:38 pm

1st, I can't figure out how to upload photos to show a few examples.

2nd, A google search for 3d Anime Mouse Pad will show many images. Does any one have and ideas how these mouse pads are made?

Post by **Zang** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 10:23 pm

Hi, pittbull -- you'll just need a couple more approved posts to reveal the image-attaching ability.

As for those clever and sexy mousepads, I don't know exactly how they're made... but I did notice they do it for butt cheeks too.

Jehuty · Post by **Jehuty** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 10:44 pm

Presumably the same way as regular gel wrist mouse pads. They are basically three parts:
1. The rubber base.
2. The shaped gel wrist rest.
3. The fabric surface (where the character is printed).
The gel is glued to the base and then the fabric is pressed on top and secured with some kind of adhesive.

pittbull · Post by **pittbull** » Sun Apr 14, 2019 9:37 am

I think the process to print an image on the fabric is called "sublimation". I think the image is sublimated to the fabric before the fabric is glued to the base/gel base. I would like to know if a mold is required during this final process. I also wander if the three layers (rubber base, gel, fabric) are glued together with the one type of adhesive or two.

Jehuty · Post by **Jehuty** » Sun Apr 14, 2019 1:24 pm

I kinda assume they are made in a factory using a big press that is shaped like a mold. The gel would be pre-molded and glued onto the rubber base in place on the bottom half of the press, then adhesive would be applied at a metered rate and the fabric would be pressed down over the top and sealed in place by the mold-shaped press.

If you are planning on making your own, I would recommend getting your gel shaped first, then gluing it to the base. Then you could spray aerosol upholstery adhesive all over the top surface and hand-spread your fabric across it, aligning the important bits first. Then it would just be a matter of smoothing wrinkles and trimming excess material from the edges.

Looking at my own gel pad, it seems like they used some kind of rigid gel adhesive layer around the edges where the fabric meets the rubber to clean up that edge. You would have to improvise that part if you made your own.

BuilderOfCastles · Post by **BuilderOfCastles** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 1:33 pm

OK, first done is a printed cloth top.
It is a semi-stretchy fabric that takes inks well.
It is either printed on a inkjet printer (small batches) or an offset printer (large batches)

Then the cloth is adhered to a foam layer.

Then both are heat pressed into the lumpy form.

Then the gel is glued to that.

None of these items are sold at your local hobby shop.

pittbull · Post by **pittbull** » Sat May 04, 2019 3:34 pm

Here is some terminology the supplier responded to an email I sent them.

Lycra Cloth
Gel fill it
SBR
PU Base

Front of Product
Wrist Material: gel filled
Surface: Lycta/Megen/T Cloth
Design: your design
Print Way: Thermal transfer printing or silk-screen

Back of Product
Surface: OP Film
Black Material: PU Base
Pu effect: non-slip
Shape: Custom