The process of manufacturing the gel pads for the GelSlim 4.0 uses several pieces of equipment that may not be accessible to some users interested in manufacturing the GelSlim 4.0. Some of these pieces of equipment can be particularly expensive, such as the large-volume centrifuge we use to help remove air bubbles from the silicone. We have experimented with several alternate methods in case some of the equipment is not available to you. While the results of these alternatives are not quite as good as using all of the listed equipment, they can still produce usable gel pads for the GelSlim 4.0.
If you do not have access to a centrifuge that can hold the 30cc barrel syringes in the GelSlim 4.0 bill of materials, it's not required to spend the money to acquire one. Instead, you can mix the silicone in the mixing cup per the instructions, then place the mixing cup directly into the vacuum chamber to degas. You'll then slowly pour the silicone from the mixing cup directly into the prepared gel mold, and proceed with degassing the silicone in the gel mold as per the instructions. Consequently, you will no longer need the centrifuge, pressure regulator, barrel adapter, 30cc barrel syringes, flow pistons, tip caps, and dispensing tips listed in the bill of materials.
If you do not have access to a vacuum chamber, you can rely on the centrifuge to remove most of the air bubbles in the silicone. After mixing the silicone, pouring it into the barrel syringes, running it through the centrifuge, and dispensing it into the prepared gel mold, simply end the instructions there are let the silicone cure without degassing. You will need to be especially careful not to introduce any air bubbles while dispensing the silicone into the gel mold. You can accomplish this by making sure the dispensing tip stays inside the bead of extruded silicone and being mindful to stop the flow of silicone before the flow piston pushes any residual air bubbles inside the barrel adapter into the silicone bead in the gel mold.