index

Principles Practices project management

Computer-aided design

Computer-controlled cutting

electronics production

3D scanning and printing

electronics design

molding and casting

programming

Computer-controlled machining

input devices

composites

interface and application programming

output devices

networking and communications

mechanical design, machine design

applications and implications

invention, intellectual property, and income

project development

final project presentations

Molding and casting

I chose to work with a geometric form that was before explored in my week 03 assignment: Computer Controlled Cutting.

The set up that I chose: Machine: Laser Cutter. Material: Acrylic 3mm thickness (Positive), Silicon Rubber (Negative) Casting material: Silicon Rubber (Final object) Plus experience: steel spring device (placed inside the mold) The Positive Process: With the laser cutter I cut the acrylic to do the positive mold, the acrylic was glued piece by piece. To get a better result I did some guides (three holes in every piece and two in the base) Here the Rhino Laser Cut files. Process:

The Negative Process: I used Silicon Rubber and a catalyzer that together finished the mold in 3 hours. In the mold appeared cylinders that were the "pins guides" that I removed from positive.

The final object: I used the same silicon rubber + catalyzer and vaseline to release the object. In order to try two different materials, I placed inside the negative some spring devices to test an "elastic" final  object.

My final result was a process that I could experience mixing materials in order to mold and cast them and in this exercise the final object was more "elastic" and at same time more "rigid" than the one made only by silicon rubber.